Changing Letting Agents in Edinburgh

Many landlords tend to choose a letting agent and stay with them for years, tenancy after tenancy, even if they are not delivering on service. For some, the perceived hassle of changing their letting agent in Edinburgh encourages them to stay – and others don’t even realise that changing letting agent is a possibility – meaning some agents can become complacent once a tenancy is underway without the fear of losing their client.

In reality, changing your letting agent in Edinburgh can be a straightforward and hassle-free experience for both landlords and their tenants. We take a look at 4 of the most common misconceptions from landlords considering switching letting agents.

1. I signed an agreement with my letting agent so I have to stay

It is true that (in most cases) you will be tied into an initial fixed term period with your letting agent. This is to avoid landlords leaving a company immediately after an agent has invested considerable time and effort in finding, referencing and moving in a new tenant.

The initial term can vary from agent to agent, but it is usually 6 to 12 months. The best place to start is to check the Terms of Business that you have signed, this document will outline the fixed term period and also the notice that you must give to terminate your contract.

If you are out of your initial fixed term or are approaching the end of the contract with your existing letting agent in Edinburgh, you can most likely end the contract by giving 1 or 2 months’ written notice. This does not have to coincide with the end of your current tenancy.

2. I have tenants in the property and don’t want to lose them, so I will have to wait until the end of their tenancy

Many landlords believe they have to wait until the end of a tenancy to switch letting agent, however, this is not the case.  The Tenancy Agreement is a contract between the landlord and the tenant, with the agent working on behalf of the landlord, so changing the agent does not affect the legal rights or obligations of either party.

It is actually a much more straightforward process to change agents during an ongoing tenancy as it means the new agent can smoothly transition the property without the added task of advertising and finding a tenant.

If your Edinburgh letting agent has not been delivering on service, it is likely the tenant will be pleased the management is changing, meaning they may be more likely to stay in the property for longer than they would have with the previous agent.

3. I don’t want the hassle of switching agent

Changing letting agent – whether at the end of or during a tenancy – really is a straightforward process for Edinburgh landlords. Once a landlord has given their agent written notice that they would like to leave, the new agent will (in the majority of cases) handle all aspects of the switch on behalf of their client.

As the highest-rated Edinburgh letting agents, at Clan Gordon, we are experienced in taking over management from other letting agents and making the process as straightforward as possible for our clients. We will:

• Contact the tenant

The first step for us is to get contact details for your tenant. We liaise with the tenant directly regarding the changeover, letting them know who we are and when we will be taking over the property.  We ensure the tenant knows who to contact in the event of any maintenance issues, and has the correct bank details to make rent payments.

• Obtain tenancy documents

Including the Tenancy Agreement, proscribed information, referencing reports, deposit details, and check-in inventory.

• Obtain property documents

Including safety certificates and warranties. We will check that your property is fully compliant with current safety legislation.

• Collect keys

We will collect all sets of keys held by the previous agent on behalf of the landlord.

• Arrange a property inspection

Our initial inspections are scheduled in the first 6 weeks from taking on the property. Inspections are then 6 monthly unless we identify an issue that requires more regular inspections.

4. All Edinburgh letting agents are the same, it isn’t worth the hassle of changing

While most letting agents – on paper anyway – offer similar lettings and property management services, the way in which these services are carried out can be very different. There are currently over 200 letting agents in Edinburgh city centre alone. One way to gain insight into how an agent performs is to read their online reviews from actual landlord and tenant clients. We currently have a Google rating of 4.9 stars (out of 5 stars). To read our reviews search Google for ‘Clan Gordon’.

The main variables between letting agents, ones which can lead to the success or breakdown of the landlord-agent relationship, include:

• Competence

Check that the agent is qualified to manage your property. Everyone at Clan Gordon either has achieved or is working towards, their NFoPP (National Federation of Property Professionals) Technical Award in Scottish Residential Letting and Property Management.

• Regulation

The introduction of the Letting Agent Code of Practice in 2018 will enforce regulation for all letting agents. Until then, the industry remains largely unregulated putting landlords and their assets at risk. Regulated letting agents must adhere to a strict code of practice, encouraging professionalism within the industry.

At Clan Gordon, we are regulated by ARLA and RICS. Read more about our regulations.

• Communication

Lack of communication is one of the most common complaints from landlords looking to change letting agents.

At Clan Gordon we use cloud-based communications software so all communications are linked to the property and can be accessed by everyone in the team, meaning our landlords have one point of contact. Our  Client Satisfaction Survey found that landlords and tenants are happy with our level of communication, and 94% of tenants are satisfied that their queries are dealt with in a timely manner.

• Transparency

Landlords trust letting agents to manage their most important assets, and so it is important that agents are completely transparent in everything that they do. At Clan Gordon, we believe in always being honest with our clients and working in their best interest, even if it means less profit for us.

How do I switch my property management to Clan Gordon?

Getting peace of mind your property is in safe hands with Clan Gordon managing it for you couldn't be easier. It's just three simple steps to hassle-free letting.

1. Schedule a call - our team will walk you through the process.
2. Give notice to your agent - We'll take care of everything from here so you don't have to worry about any paperwork hassles.
3. Sit back and relax - Know your property is in safe hands with Edinburgh's highest-rated letting agent.

So don't waste time wondering whether you could and should be getting a better service from your Edinburgh letting agent. Schedule a call with Clan Gordon today and experience the first-class service every landlord deserves.