Latest Property News around Barry, Cardiff

Top tips for landlords and tenants

Independent property consultancy Knight Frank has produced its own top five tips for tenants when making an offer on a property and for landlords who rent out their own homes.

Landlords renting out their homes:
1. Try and view the property as a business opportunity. Do not be hurt or upset if a tenant does not like your wallpaper and asks you to neutralise.

2. Make the property more like a show home rather than your own home. DECLUTTER.

3. Make sure your boiler and electrics are in good order with plenty of time. The rules for gas are very stringent and the boiler you have had which has served you fine for 20 years may not pass the CORGI inspection.

4. Inform your lender in good time that you will be letting the property.

5. Ensure that any requests, with reference to lettings from the leaseholder/freeholder/managing agent are complied with in good time.

Tenants making an offer:
1. Make sure all requests and information is given to the agent at the time of the offer. Do not ask for the property to be repainted after the offer has been accepted.

2. If you can stay for a year straight with no break clause, you are more likely to get the property. Or make your break clause at a good letting time, not Christmas or January.

3. Some Landlords may appreciate the rent being paid in large instalments, six monthly or upfront. If you can do this it may put you in a strong negotiating position and you may be able to get the rent down.

4. Make sure your referees are briefed to send out references straight away. Lots of tenants are losing properties due to delay in references.

5. Get the Tenancy Agreement signed within three days. Do not waste time making lots of amendments. Remember that if you choose a good agent, then the Tenancy Agreement should be of good quality. Wasting time on this could mean you end up losing the property.