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Switching Letting Agents in Glasgow: Advice for Landlords Are you a landlord thinking of switching letting agents in Glasgow? Read on for some advice from Cairn. Expensive maintenance charges. Substandard repairs. Poor communication. Late rent payments. And every time you call, it’s someone different on the other end of the line — and they don’t know you or your property. As a landlord, the last thing you need is a letting agent mismanaging your property. If the above sounds familiar, it could be time for a change. And despite some common misconceptions, switching letting agents is easier than you think. Moving Letting Agents in Glasgow: Common Misconceptions Many landlords see changing letting agents as a hassle they can live without, so they stay loyal to an agency, even if they’re not meeting expectations. Others think they need to wait until the property is empty before switching, while some simply don’t see the point in moving. After all, a letting agent is a letting agent, right? Wrong. Let’s deal with these misconceptions, one by one: 1. “I have to wait until the end of the tenancy before changing agents.” This isn’t true. The Tenancy Agreement is between you (the landlord) and your tenant. The agency has been hired to manage your property — switching agents won’t impact the agreement. In fact, it’s often easier to change agents with a tenant in place, as it means the new agent can take over the management of the property without the additional need to advertise and place a new tenant. 2. “Every Glasgow letting agent is the same; there’s no point in switching.” Most letting agents provide similar services. However, the way in which these services are delivered can vary from one agent to the next. Think of it like having a favourite coffee shop, even though you can get a coffee almost anywhere. There’s more to it than simply getting what you asked for. Likewise, the very best letting agents in Glasgow are doing more than making sure rent is collected on time. They’re fully regulated, understand the legislation involved, prioritise quality customer service, and offer professional and reliable communication at all times. 3. “Moving to a new letting agent is more fuss than it’s worth.” Switching from an underperforming agent to one who values a strong working relationship and cares for your property and its tenants is absolutely worth the fuss — if it can even be considered “fuss” in the first place! In reality, there’s little you need to do in order to switch. Beyond giving your current agent written notice that you plan to leave, your new agent will handle everything on your behalf. Case in point… Switching Letting Agents in Glasgow (It’s Easier Than You Think) At Cairn, we make switching simple. From liaising with your current agent to communicating with your tenant(s), we take care of every last detail, including: The acquisition of a detailed handover from your current agent. This will include information related to rent arrears, payment plans, planned maintenance, and outstanding tenant requests; The transfer and recording of the latest safety certificates; The transfer of all keys, up-to-date inventory, and the current lease agreement (if applicable); And the provision of a new point of contact and updated bank details for rent payments to your tenant(s). You are appointed a property manager so you are dealing with one point of contact. Our qualified and experienced property managers conduct audits on documents sent to us to ensure that all legal responsibilities are met and the landlords interests are protected. If you’re interested in changing letting agents in Glasgow, visit our Getting Started page or contact our friendly team for more information.

Landlords, Hints & Tips, News

COVID 19 LOAN SCHEME

COVID 19 LOAN SCHEME A new loan scheme has been made available this week for some landlords whose tenancies have been affected by COVID-19. Private Rent Sector Landlord COVID-19 Loan Scheme Last month, the Scottish Government announced it would provide an interest-free loan to landlords who have suffered a loss of rental income as […]

Landlords, Hints & Tips, Student Accommodation, Tenants

How to manage your inventory effectively

How to manage your inventory effectively You will probably be faced with a lot of different documentation relating to your rental property- some of which you may be more familiar with than others. Included with your “move in pack” will be your property’s inventory. An inventory is a written document which provides an accurate description […]

Landlords, Legislation, Tenants

Legislation affecting BOTH Tenant and Landlord

Legislation affecting BOTH Tenant and Landlord It’s no surprise that the rental market has undergone yet MORE changes to legislation from 2017-2019 than ever before. If you don’t already know, The Private Residential Tenancy came into force on the 1st December 2017 and has brought about some big changes. The tenancy system establishes the […]

Landlords

Top Tips to increase the value of your rental property

Top Tips to increase the value of your rental property As all private landlords know, keeping your rental property looking sharp can be a job that falls further down the to do list every time the lease is renewed. So, to help ease this burden, we have pulled together a few top tips on how to get the most out of your rental property: Top Tip 1- Improve the appearance of the front of the property. Whether it’s a house or a flat, improvements can be made to be sure the front of your property is in tip top condition. This could mean spraying some weed killer down your front steps or drive way or even just getting a new door mat for your communal hall. Whatever you do, first impressions count and small changes can be crucial for demanding higher monthly rent from your tenants. Top Tip 2- Clean, clean and clean some more No one wants to move in to a dirty home, let alone pay a premium for it! After each tenant leaves, make sure the property has been thoroughly cleaned. This responsibility normally lies with the tenant however it is always a good idea to get professional cleaners in after the lease is finished, or if you don’t mind and want to save yourself a bit of cash, do it yourself! Whatever you choose, make sure your tenants are moving in to a home where you would be happy to live in. Chances are, they are more likely to keep it that way! Top Tip 3- Rent review Charging too little or too much rent can be a problem. Make sure you are keeping up to date with the value of your property by making a valuation appointment with your letting agent. This is paramount to ensure you are not being undercut. However, it is a risk, so make sure you weigh up all the options before committing. Top Tip 4- Maintenance Check the general maintenance of the property regularly. This can avoid small problems becoming much larger problems, and probably save you some money in the long run. Having regular inspections means that you are more likely to spot issues such as damp or wear and tear which your tenants might not pick up on. Top Tip 5- Add special extras Finally, if your property is in a competitive market, you may want to think about adding that little something extra to add that luxury touch. This can be anything from high spec kitchen appliances like kettles, toasters and microwaves to built-in surround systems like Sonos if you are really splashing out. Whatever you do, remember, the more you put in, the more you get out!

Landlords, Letting

The Danger of Unqualified Letting Agents

The Danger of Unqualified Letting Agents Is your letting agent qualified to manage your properties and ensure you meet your obligations as a fit and proper landlord? Let’s hope so, as the protection of tenants is a high profile cause for the Scottish Executive. Time and time again, we discover when taking on new landlords […]

Landlords, Buy To Let, Investment, Tenanted Properties

Pros and Cons of Buying Tenanted Properties

The UK is experiencing an upsurge in the sale and purchase of tenanted properties but is the trend just a fad or a viable option for property investors? A tenanted property is one sold with tenants currently living there. The removal of tax relief for buy to let finance costs has led some landlords to […]

Landlords, Buy To Let, News

Tax in La La Land – Landlords Hearing Little Sweet Music

By Donald Parbrook, Head of Tax, Milne Craig, Chartered Accountants Landlords may be forgiven for feeling like the new changes in tax rules were made up in La La Land. Certainly the changes are music to the ears at the Treasury. It seems both Scottish and English Governments have little or no interest in making […]

Landlords, Legislation

Immigration checks are coming – What do you need to know?

Immigration checks are coming – What do you need to know? Many landlords carry out checks as a matter of course but from February, in England, Right to Rent checks become a legal requirement. For most, background checks on new tenants are an expected part of the moving in process, but these are about to become law. […]

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Landlords, Glasgow, Letting, Services, Tenants

Switching Letting Agents in Glasgow: Advice for Landlords