The new report found that rent achieved on a property did not appear in the top three factors taken into account by landlords when selecting an agent, with speed of let and trained staff cited as the second and third priorities.
41% of landlords cited finding long term tenants as a key factor, indicating that landlords value reliable and consistent tenants over those that will pay higher rents. Unsurprisingly, 66% of landlords surveyed also mentioned speed of let as a key priority, reflecting the need to avoid empty properties to evade loss of income.
Carrie Alliston, Head of Lettings at Hunters Property Plc, said: “It is undeniable that the UK has a growing market for lettings, with more people renting than ever before, whether this is because they are struggling to get onto the housing ladder or enjoy the flexibility renting gives them. It is therefore highly important to ensure that although the market is widening, agents are still doing the necessary procedures to protect both landlords and tenants. At Hunters our staff are trained to find the most reliable tenants to ensure our landlords receive rent in good time, their properties are well looked after and are unlikely to be left empty at short notice.
“Whilst it is important to ensure our investors are achieving a good return on their properties, it is reassuring to see that despite rental price increases across the country; our landlords have not cited marketing their properties at the most expensive price possible as a priority for them. This indicates that the increase in rental prices across England is due to wider market factors, such as house price increases or the additional stamp duty charges introduced in April, rather than landlord greed.”
