Top 10 questions to ask before instructing a letting agent.

May 29, 2015

After buying a new rental investment property, the next job is to find tenants! Letting agents come in all shapes and sizes, but sorting the wheat from the chaff might be a harder task than you’d think.  We’ve put together a list of the most important questions to ask a prospective agent before instructing them to find tenants for you:

1) Are you a member of a regulatory organisation such as ARLA or NALS?

2) Are you a member of the SAFEagent scheme, an organisation whose members all hold client money protection insurance?

3) Will my property be advertised on both Rightmove and Zoopla?

4) Do you use an independent referencing agency to assess all potential tenants and can I see the final reference reports before committing to a tenancy?

5) Do you take a holding deposit from interested tenants when they make an offer, so that I can be sure that they are serious about renting my property?

6) How many lettings staff will be working on my property?

7) How many active tenants does your office have on its database?

8) How many similar properties have you let in the last few months?

9) On average how long would you expect it to take before you achieve an offer from tenants?

10) What are your branch opening hours?

Alex Evans

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s Most Searched Locations in 2025

Rightmove reveals some of the trends which defined the 2025 property market, from the most viewed homes to the most searched for locations UK’s top property hotspots: London, Manchester, and Glasgow are the most searched for locations in 2025 Capital crowns: Wimbledon, Fulham, and Chiswick are the most searched-for London spots for buyers, while Canary…
Read More →
affordable houses glasgow
Breaking News

Consistent support for apprenticeships helps construction

The Government has announced a £725 million package of reforms to the apprenticeship system, including £140m for a Mayoral pilot programme. Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “The consistent messaging from politicians that apprenticeships should be valued as highly as degrees is fantastic and will be of great benefit…
Read More →
Christmas Decorations - Good or Bad for Selling
Estate Agent Talk

6 tips for a stress-free Christmas move

With an average of 87,000 home sales taking place during the month of December, Property DriveBuy has compiled practical advice for those due to complete this festive season, a time already known for being one of the busiest and most emotionally charged periods of the year. Despite this bringing the potential for a more stressful…
Read More →
new build homes colchester essex
Estate Agent Talk

Why 2026 could be the year the market turns

How policy, land and confidence will shape the recovery By Tim Foreman, Managing Director of Land and New Homes, LRG In property sales there are people who need to move and people who want to move. In the last few years, only those who have had to move have been active. Once conditions improve, those…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Why Dumpster Rentals Simplify DIY Kitchen Demolition Projects

Taking on a DIY kitchen demolition project can be both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you’re updating your kitchen’s layout, replacing old cabinets, or knocking down walls, the demolition phase generates a significant amount of debris—everything from broken tiles and drywall to old cabinets and countertops. Managing this waste efficiently is crucial to keeping your project…
Read More →
Breaking News

Zoopla’s 2025 Year in Property: Rural dreams, fastest moving markets and an optimistic end to the year

It’s been a popular year for rural living, with a three-bed detached home in South-West Wales taking the top spot for the most viewed property. The average time to sell in 2025 was 38 days, up from 35 days in 2024. Three-bed terraced properties were the most popular property type. Falkirk in Scotland remains the…
Read More →