Finding a Good Letting Agent in London

There are a number of considerations when looking to find a letting agent or a residential lettings agencies in london. A good primary guideline is to ensure that they are a member of the professional institution the ARLA (Association of Residential Lettings Agents), which is a government recognised body.

There are a specific set of standards that members of ARLA must adhere to. Although these requirements aren't hugely stringent, they are at least the minimum requirements for a professional insurer. ARLA members are required to have been in business for at least 2 years. They must also posses professional indemnity insurance, hold a separate financial account for clients' funds, and only take commissions from landlords and not their tenants.

By using a letting agent that is a member of ARLA, you are gaining the extra experience of an organisation that operates throughout the UK rental market, and are assured to receive a good level of information and quality of service.

There is no replacement for a good personal recommendation from someone you trust, however that option is not always available. This is especially the case if you are renting in an area that is completely new to you or are a new landlord that is relatively inexperienced within the industry. One reputable letting agent who specialise in finding high quality residential properties for long and short-term rent in central London are Residential Lettings London.

Once the basic requirements for a letting agent have been established, it is relatively easy to find a good selection of letting agents in the area you require. One option is to visit a property finding website such as London Property Finder, choose the area you require and you will be presented with a list of the top letting companies in that area. After which it is simply a case of contacting the relevant companies and using your informed judgment to make the best decision on the right property for you.

When you have chosen an agent

If you are a prospective tenant

You will be expected to sign a tenancy agreement before moving into the property. More information about tenancy agreements can be found on our contracts page.

The most important thing to remember is to read your tenancy agreement thoroughly and ensure you have read and understood everything within this. Never sign anything you are unsure about, if your letting agent is unwilling to explain anything in a manner you don't understand, walk away and find a letting agent you can reach an understanding with.

If you are a landlord

Once you have decided on a letting agent, you will be expected to sign an 'agency agreement'. This is a legally binding document so you should ensure you have read and understood the entire document.

Agency agreements cover the agents right to let the property on your behalf and manage it during the tenancy. There will be other clauses within the contract and you should make sure that anything you are uncertain about is pointed out to the letting agent before you have signed anything. If you find you are unable to reach a happy compromise with the letting agent, do not sign the agreement anyway, find another letting agent that is willing to agree to terms you are happy with.

If there is anything you want taken care of while you are away, ensure that you put it in writing and get the agent to sign and date it. For example, if you do not want tenants to go in the loft or attic, or you do not want them to decorate the property, then include this.

When you have signed an agreement

Once you have agreed terms, you will be able to leave the letting agent to take care of everything, there is no need for constant contact with the letting agent and they will not appreciate constant interference from a client.

Generally, once you have found a good letting agent the job will be taken care of for you, but it is always a good idea to sign and date any correspondence between you and the agent, keeping copies of everything filed away safely.

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