WHEN your work takes you away from home for a considerable length of
time you might think the sensible way to handle your living arrangements
is to let out your house.
If someone has a particular fondness for their home there may be a
reluctance to sell-up on the chance of being able to move back into a
similar house in the area. That pleasant view over the neighbourhood
golf course or accessibility to transport need not be lost by career
dictates.
However, how can you be sure you are letting it out to the right
person? And do you have you any real guarantee that they will care for
your home the way you would wish?
The temptation beckons to put your home into the hands of a good
letting agency to ensure that it is only rented out to those who will
treat it with care.
Lyn Sher, partner with Glasgow agency Lets Rent Property Bureau,
relies among other things on her company's computer credit check.
''It allows us to home in on a new tenant's credit-worthiness and
financial background. We couple that with the knowledge that years of
experience in the letting business have given us.
''That means using the tremendous amount of background knowledge which
you accrue through hundreds of house lets.''
Lynn Sher believes that the agent has to treat each property as though
it were their own.
''That may sound quite a workload but it is essential to look after
your clients. It would bother me if a tenant was careless or casual
about the property. Not only would I be answerable to the client, but
there would be a tremendous feeling of having let someone down.
''Even if we have had a satisfactory credit check on someone, if what
they tell us does not quite match up then we are reluctant to let
property to them. Nor do we hand out keys to people to view properties
themselves.''
What guarantees do prospective tenants have that they won't be accused
of damaging property and goods which were already on their last legs?
Lyn's company employs a checker who visits prospective lets to assess
the standard of the house and its contents, and make sure that
everything is in order.
''She will pull curtains back and forward making sure rails are firmly
secure, even switch on the vacuum cleaner listening for any obvious
faults,'' Lyn said. ''That way both owner and tenant are kept in the
picture.
''Operating a policy of fairness is really the only way to operate in
this business.''
So who fixes a fair rent? Lets Rent employs two experienced property
consultants, Robert Wilson and Colin McMillan, who visit prospective
clients.
''Location, size of property and condition are three of the many
things considered when calculating a monthly rent,'' said Robert Wilson.
''We keep a seasoned eye on the market in terms of property values and
popularity.''
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