Switch to Clan Gordon Letting Agent and Get 3 Months FREE Property Management – Risk-Free, Hassle-Free
Switching Letting Agents
When you trust a letting agent to manage your Edinburgh rental property, you’re entitled to expect excellent service and communication, with your tenants being well looked after.
A complete property management service should cover everything from finding reputable tenants to looking after repairs, answering emergency calls and chasing late rent payments. But not all letting agents provide the same level of service, and costs can vary considerably too.
At Clan Gordon, we know clear, open and regular communication is crucial, both with the landlords whose properties we manage and their tenants. All our landlords are allocated their own property manager as their main point of contact, but our team is also well briefed about all the properties we manage and can quickly step in if their allocated adviser isn’t available. The most important thing is that our clients aren’t left waiting.
So, what can you do if you’re not happy with your Edinburgh letting agent? How easy is it to switch?
Myth busting – what really happens when you move to a different letting agent?
There are lots of myths about moving letting agent that mean landlords often stay with one they’re unhappy with. Did you know:
- You don’t have to wait until your current tenancy ends to switch agent.
- You don’t need a new tenancy agreement or safety certificates if you switch agent.
The tenancy agreement and all the associated documentation belongs to the landlord and not the agent, so it can easily be transferred. This also applies to the tenancy deposit scheme – they just need to be advised of the change of letting agent.
Do your research before switching letting agent
When changing to a new agent, make sure you’re not jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Carefully research what each letting agent is offering, what their costs are and how long they take to respond to enquiries and get maintenance issues sorted.
It’s worth taking time to talk to several letting agents and compare what they offer. Make a list of what’s most important to you and what your budget is. If your current agent is slow to respond to enquiries, make sure you check the new letting agent’s turnaround time for replying to emails.
And if you’ve been unhappy with repairs and maintenance, check what firms they use and ask how regularly they carry out property inspections. At Clan Gordon, we use only reputable and reliable local tradespeople who can be relied on to provide an exceptional service at a competitive price.
We also carry out regular inspections, so our landlords’ properties don’t fall into disrepair and so we can spot any issues early.
Check your contract with your existing letting agent
Before you look for a new letting agent, check your current landlord contract to see when you can move. Most letting agents build a six or 12-month fixed term at the start of a contract so that landlords don’t jump ship as soon as they’ve invested money in the initial property marketing and advertising. If you want to switch letting agents and are still within contract, have a chat with our team and we can offer advice here on how this might be negotiated.
You also need to check your contract for the notice you’re required to give, which should be provided to your letting agent in writing. This will be outlined in your contract and is usually one to three months. The agent is obliged to transfer the tenancy agreement to the new agent and ensure they receive all the necessary documentation.
Keep your tenants informed if you decide to switch agents
Once you’ve decided to make the switch, let your tenants know about the change. Chances are your tenants have not been happy with your letting agent’s service either and will look forward to the improvement. Make sure your tenants know the date of the change as they’ll need to make rent payments to a different account. (When landlords switch to Clan Gordon’s property management service we take care of all of this for them.)
Your new letting agent should advise your tenants of the new bank details for their rent payments. Don’t worry if a rent payment accidentally gets paid to your old agent – they are legally obliged to forward it to the new letting agent in a reasonable amount of time.
Check with your existing agent if there are any outstanding maintenance issues with the property so these can quickly be addressed. You’ll also need to check if you owe money for any work that’s recently been completed.
Switching to a new letting agent is easier than most landlords think, and it can make a huge difference if you find an agent who really cares. Landlords should be able to relax in the knowledge that their property is being looked after, and tenants should receive an attentive service.
Enjoy 3 Months Free When You Switch to Clan Gordon
At Clan Gordon, we handle every detail when you switch from your current letting agent. We're so confident you'll love our service that we're offering 3 months of property management completely free.To find out more, arrange a call with one of our expert property managers.