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.''