The rental value of your property depends on a range of factors — from its location and size, to nearby amenities, and the overall condition and presentation of the home. At Rent-A-Home, we provide honest, data-driven advice based on all of these elements, along with up-to-date insights into the local market. Our goal is to help you achieve the best possible rental return while attracting reliable and trustworthy tenants.
Managing a rental property can be straightforward — until something goes wrong. Whether it's a boiler breakdown or a tenant facing financial difficulties, things can quickly become stressful, especially with the growing number of legal requirements and paperwork. At Rent-A-Home, we take the pressure off by managing your property with care, expertise, and complete compliance. We’ll make sure you're fully protected, your property is well looked after, and your income is safeguarded. With our in-depth industry knowledge and hands-on approach, you can trust us to always act in your best interests.
The overall condition of your property has a significant impact on its rental performance. A clean, well-maintained, and visually appealing flat not only commands a higher rental price but also tends to attract tenants more quickly. As part of our comprehensive service, we ensure that all fixtures and fittings are in excellent working order — creating a positive living experience that encourages tenant satisfaction and helps foster longer, more stable tenancies. One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to let your property furnished or unfurnished. Furnished properties tend to present better during viewings, helping potential tenants visualise the space and often leading to quicker lets. If the furniture is of good quality, you may also be able to command a higher rental price. However, it’s important to consider the long-term cost — furnished properties may require more upkeep, as furniture will naturally need to be repaired or replaced over time due to wear and tear. If you choose to let the property unfurnished, we strongly recommend including essential white goods (such as a washing machine, cooker, and fridge freezer) to meet tenant expectations. Ultimately, flexibility is key. Being open to different furnishing options can broaden the appeal of your property and attract a wider pool of tenants. Any items not needed should be removed and stored where necessary to keep the property clean and clutter-free.
At Rent-A-Home, we market every property with energy and precision across multiple platforms to ensure it reaches the widest possible audience. Your property will be featured on leading portals such as Rightmove and On the Market, displayed prominently on our own website, and showcased in our high-traffic shop window. Alongside this, we maintain daily contact with a pool of pre-vetted tenants actively seeking properties — giving your home the best chance of letting quickly. Our goal is simple: to minimise vacant periods and maximise your rental income through smart, proactive marketing.
When we receive an offer on your property, we’ll promptly share the details with you — along with comprehensive information about the prospective tenants. This includes their employment status, living situation, who will be moving in, and their intended length of tenancy. As the landlord, you remain in full control. The final decision to accept or decline an offer is always yours. If you choose not to proceed, we’ll continue marketing the property and arranging viewings until the right tenant is secured.
Once an offer is accepted, we request a holding deposit from the applicants and arrange for them to present their Right to Rent identification, which we will verify and copy as required by law. We then begin the referencing process, which includes thorough checks to confirm suitability. During this stage, viewings are paused while we complete all necessary checks to everyone’s satisfaction. If, for any reason, the tenancy does not proceed, marketing and viewings will resume immediately to secure a new tenant without delay.
Every prospective tenant is subject to comprehensive background and reference checks to ensure their financial suitability for the tenancy. We also conduct identity verification and carry out full Right to Rent checks, as required by law. This process confirms the applicant's legal right to live and work in the UK, and identifies whether they are subject to any immigration controls. If the applicant has rented before, we will request landlord references to assess their past behaviour as a tenant, including their payment reliability, care of the property, and adherence to tenancy terms. By gathering this broad range of information, we’re able to build a clear, well-rounded profile of each applicant — giving you confidence in their suitability and helping to protect your property and rental income.
Once all referencing checks have been completed and approved, we request that the tenants pay their first month’s rent in advance, along with a security deposit. Once we have received cleared funds, we will prepare the tenancy agreement and ensure it is signed by all parties. As is legally required, the security deposit is then registered and protected with the Deposit Protection Service (DPS) — a Government-authorised scheme that safeguards deposits and ensures compliance with legal requirements.
Upon arranging an inventory, our staff member will meet the tenants at the property to carry out the check-in procedure. During this visit, meter readings will be recorded, keys photographed, and then handed over to the tenant. For managed properties, we will securely retain a spare set of keys at our office for ongoing access and emergency use. The completed inventory will be sent to the tenant within seven days for review. Tenants have fourteen days to raise any amendments; if no changes are submitted within that timeframe, the inventory will be considered agreed and finalised.
