Landlord guide to letting property in Edinburgh

There are many reasons you might want to become a landlord, you might be an investor looking into Buy – to – Let ventures, maybe you’ve moved in with a loved one and have a property sat empty, or perhaps you have inherited property an aren’t sure what to do next.

Letting your property is not as simple as finding tenants and getting rent transferred each month, for most landlords it can be a full time job to manage their property. This is why it’s common to put your property in the hands of property experts.

Our passion for local knowledge, years of collective experience and tried-and-tested processes means that Belvoir has the lettings process down to fine art – from helping our landlords source the right investment opportunities to matching your properties with the right tenants. We take a tailored approach to working with each landlord, and we’ll work together to achieve your goals.

What is a letting agent?

The job of a letting agent is to make landlords lives easier. Letting agents are a group of property experts who know the process and the industry back to the front. (It’s literally what we do for a living!)

Property is a specialist field that requires knowledge and tools, the same way as you wouldn’t service your own car. Not only are we a buffer between you and your tenant for handling any awkward inspections or deposit disputes but we have an ironed out process from start to finish.

Your responsibilities when using Belvoir:

Provide us with approval from your mortgage lender and your landlord registration number.
Allow us to make (and keep) the property compliant using our panel of contractors.
Liaise with us about any large repairs.

Preparing to let

Refurbishing – not all properties will need touching up but there are some real pro’s to having a high standard of décor. It means you can get a higher rental income/ yield, and attract quality tenants who are more likely to stay longer as well as look after their home. If you aren’t sure what you should do prior to letting just ask, our experts can advise what works might be beneficial, we can also use our panel of contractors to do the work for you!

Cleaning – before tenants move in we will have the property cleaned by our own cleaner, if it needs touching up before taking market photos we can sort this too.

Marketing – whilst your property is vacant our team will capture professional photography, a high quality virtual tour as well as floor plans. The property will need to look like and be to the standard that new tenants can expect to move into, we can help you dress the property and decide if you want to let the property furnished or unfurnished. We will then write a description for the property and publish online for you.

Safety Certificates – All properties are required to have an EPC before they can be marketed. Our compliance manager will be able to look at any certificates your property already has and arrange what is required via our approved local contractors. We can instruct:

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate – Enshrined in legislation from 1998, the LGCI is required for any properties were gas appliances are present. The certificate ensure all appliances and fittings are safe for use.
Electrical Installation Condition Report – A condition report provided by one of our licenced engineers following an inspection to certify the property as electrically safe. The report would identify any defects and include recommendations for any omissions.
Portable Appliance Test – To ensure suitability of individual electrical appliances via a visual inspection of the body, plug and lead. This could also include test signals on the cables.
Legionella Risk Assessment – Legionella bacteria can cause serious disease. It is best practise to conduct a LRA to highlight any potential risk to your tenants.
Energy Performance certificate – It’s a legal requirement to provide an EPC to your tenants. This document shows how energy-efficient the property is and will estimate energy costs. A rating between A-G will also be given.

Arrange a free market appraisal

Whether you’re a landlord, you’re looking to sell or you’re just interested in how much your property might be worth, the best way to get an accurate and detailed understanding is through a free one-to-one appraisal with one of our experienced local agents. Request an appraisal with your local office using the form below.