Steps to get the best let:
Whether you’re a first-time landlord or your tenant has just given notice, letting a property can feel like a mountain to climb. Let Next Step Estates guide you to the top.
1.
Book a rental valuation
We’ll visit your property, take a look around, then sit down with you to understand what you want to achieve. With our local knowledge, we’ll give you an honest view of the rent you can expect, discuss the best marketing plan and explain what needs doing before your property can be let.
2.
Receive our appraisal
We’ll send you our rental valuation and confirm our fee, payable only if we let your property. If you’re happy, you instruct Next Step Estates as your agent and provide us with a set of keys for viewings.
3.
Get ready to let
We’ll arrange professional photographs, a floor plan and, where it helps, a video tour – all free of charge – and send you tips to present your property at its best.
Before a tenant moves in, you’ll need a valid EPC (rated E or above), a gas safety certificate, an electrical safety report (EICR) and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
We can arrange all of these for you – see [Certificates].
4.
Go Live
We market your property as widely as possible: on Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket, in our office window and on social media. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, the advertised rent is the rent – we can’t invite or accept offers above it – so getting the asking rent right from the start matters.
5.
Viewings
Every viewing is accompanied by a member of our team. If the property is currently tenanted, we’ll contact the existing tenants to arrange convenient times.
6.
Receiving offers
Most properties receive an offer within a couple of weeks, and sought-after properties can attract
interest within hours.
7.
Holding deposit and referencing
Once you accept an offer, the tenant pays a holding deposit (capped by law at one week’s rent) and we carry out full referencing, including credit, employment, previous landlord and Right to Rent checks.
8.
Move-in
Once references are approved, we complete a detailed inventory, provide the tenancy agreement and written statement of terms, collect the tenancy deposit and first month’s rent, and protect the deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days. Keys are handed over on move-in day.
9.
After move-in
You can manage the property yourself, or we can collect the rent or fully manage it for you. We’d be happy to talk through the options.
