In these difficult economic times, many people are looking for ways in which to supplement their income, and one of the most popular methods is privately renting out properties. Finding tenants for such properties can be tough, and there is much more to renting a house privately than ensuring the windows are clean and that the new tenants know what day the bins are supposed to go out. I Am The Agent, a revolutionary self-service letting agent based in the UK, are experts at preparing a property for private rental and know what is expected of a landlord, from the organisation of paperwork to the house itself.

Before putting a property on the market to rent, it is important to get an understanding of rent prices in the area, adding furnishings and fittings afterwards. Rent which is too expensive might see the property become hard to lease, and listing a property too cheaply will see the landlord losing out on profit. If necessary, I Am The Agent can set up a free valuation to ensure the act of advertising a property online is being done  at the right price.

The next step before listing the property on www.iamtheagent.com is to obtain the necessary certificates; these being Energy Performance Certificates and Gas Safety Certificates. Once the required documentation has been acquired, the house or flat is ready to list. Writing a description of a property can be tough; the best advice is to focus on the benefits and provide accurate descriptions of room sizes, furnishings and the location of the property. Once a tenant is found, a holding deposit is required, as well as tenant reference forms, which include contact details, employment history, salary information and the contact details of their guarantor, if this is necessary. When checks have been carried out, a move-in date can then be established.

From here a tenancy agreement, also known as an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) should be signed by both the landlord and the tenant, stating the terms of the tenancy. When this is signed and completed, a full inventory of the property should be taken, including the general condition of the property, the furnishings and the decoration. This can be done in writing or in photograph form and can be used to settle any disputes which may arise further down the line. The property is now ready to be inhabited by the tenant or tenants, with all documentation obtained and all the necessary checks carried out. The last hurdle is protecting the deposit received from the tenant with one of the government approved deposit schemes. Within 14 days of receiving the deposit you must provide the tenant with a signed Deposit Protection Certificate.