Good Practice : What you Need to know to secure a quality tenant and a great rental return.

Andrew Teague our Lettings Manager runs our busy department and has seen an increasing number of tenants registering in the area looking for high quality flats in Shepherd’s Bush and Hammersmith.  This part of west London has seen a year on year increase of investment making this location a hotspot for young professionals looking for excellent leisure facilities, Job opportunities superb transport facilities which continue to attract good tenants.  As a result, our landlords have enjoyed best possible rents and excellent returns on their investment.

Kerr and Co’s Senior Lettings Negotiator Audrey Sexton, has been advising our landlords in preparing their properties for letting for over 14 years.   Audrey has a wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge of all types of lets in the area and is our in-house expert in renting your home for landlords and tenants.  

Ewelina Moskwa our Lettings Negotiator has worked in fashion and has a Degree in Interior Design before joining Kerr and Co.  She has a passion for design which she uses to help landlords to present and market their property in the best possible light which is essential when properties are photographed and viewings are conducted.

To help our landlords, Audrey and Ewelina have put together their Top Tips to make sure your property is desirable to the widest possible market, making sure you get the best possible rental income and tenant for your property:

Decoration: Well fitted good quality fixtures and fittings are essential – these will last longer and will remain in keeping with the rest of property, faulty door handles, broken mirrors, coat stands, old sofas and chairs ripped stained carpets can easily be repaired or replaced and can make a difference to your rental income.  Stick to neutral colours throughout to ensure your property appeals to all types of tenants. Make sure you go for high-quality paints as the colour will last longer and you will need to redecorate less frequently. Fit doorstops on every door to protect walls from being damaged by door handles and coat hooks on the backs of doors. 

Flooring: Fit the same carpet or wood flooring throughout as much of the property as possible as you should receive a discount for buying in bulk.  Put large remnants aside to be used for patching up damaged areas to avoid the expense of new flooring. Use a stain resistant carpet and good quality underlay so it lasts longer. Investing in a good carpet cleaning machine or a reputable professional to help to keep the carpets clean and fresh when re letting.

Kitchen: A modern clean lined kitchen will attract tenants and a better rent. If you are fitting worktops it pays to fit with standard top so that if it gets damaged you can replace just one section rather than the whole worktop. Choose standard size and shape tiles only in readily available colours as they cost less and can be easily replaced if damaged. A good size fridge and freezer is a must, as well as good quality hob and oven which will last and if needed can be repaired.  A good quality washing machine and dishwasher is an essential for sharers.

Bathroom:  Choose a power shower over an electric one as they tend to scale up less, are more reliable and typically do not need to be replaced as frequently so will save you money in the long run. Your tenants will appreciate a good shower too, as its many tenants check the shower pressure on viewings.

Bedrooms: Built-in wardrobes in bedrooms add value and with a fresh lick of paint, can be made to look as good as new at any time. It can also save you having to buy and replace standalone wardrobes in furnished properties.

Garden: Paving a small garden is a good way to ensure it is easier to maintain. It also means you don’t need to maintain it during empty periods or have to provide a lawn mower.Its easelir to maintain and manage.

For more information on making the most of your property on the rental market, book a rental valuation and speak to a Lettings Team on 0208 743 4332.