New landlords 'must be aware of responsibilities'
27th Jan 2012
Landlords who are new to the lettings market need to be aware of all of their responsibilities in order to be successful, according to one market specialist.
David Lawrenson, private rented sector expert at LettingFocus.com, said it is a good idea to use a reputable and respected letting agent, as they are usually reliable and landlords can be sure they have levels of protection.
"It is not easy letting property. More people are getting into it and letting property. It is not easy and there is a lot to know," he added.
One important thing to be aware of is the risk of having bad tenants who do not pay the rent, while buy to let property owners also have a responsibility to know their legal duty to do certain things.
"You have to maintain the property properly and have gas safety checks done. It is not that hard, but they need to be aware of what their responsibilities are," he added.
As long as new landlords take time to make themselves aware of their responsibilities and do all they can to adhere to them, their experience in the lettings market should be a comfortable one, the property expert added.
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