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Using a rental agent vs letting your property privately
Using a rental agent vs letting your property privately
Date: 2017-11-16
Many first-time buy-to-let investors spend a good deal of time considering whether a rental agent is the best option for managing their property, or if they could successfully handle the letting of their investment on their own.
While there are pros and cons to both options, the benefits of using an experienced and trustworthy rental agent will, for the majority of landlords, far outweigh the self-managed alternative.
Managing a property yourself is not only extremely time-consuming, but requires a great deal of knowledge of some quite complex laws and regulations put in place by the Rental Housing Tribunal. If your rental agent can't provide proof of both, walk away and find one who can.
Costs are the other main issue raised by landlords considering the services of a rental agent, and many question whether the time and effort saved are worth the extra expense.
Add to this the decreased likelihood of non-payment and subsequent litigation costs, and that small monthly agent fee suddenly seems like a very good deal. All signs certainly point towards using a rental agent for your investment property but, should you have any doubts. Ask all the questions you need to, and take your time making a decision. The right agent makes all the difference, so make sure they tick all the boxes you need to feel completely comfortable and confident in their skills and dedication.