1. Fees and Costs

●     What are your fees for fully managed, rent collection, and tenant-find services?

●    Are there any hidden charges or additional costs, such as renewal fees?  When I received the Fully managed contract there were costs in there that hadn't been discussed during our conversations, for example a charge for them to go and test the fire alarm before the tenants move in etc 

●     How do you handle deposits, and what deposit protection scheme do you use?

2. Property Marketing

●     How will you market my property (e.g., online portals, social media, local advertising)?

●     How quickly do you typically find tenants?

●     What are your processes for tenant referencing?

3. Tenant Vetting

●    How do you conduct tenant background checks (e.g., credit checks, employment references) ?

●    What is your policy on guarantors, if needed?

Although they do all the background checks and potential short list a number of possible options the final decision is usually down to you!!

4. Compliance and Legal Matters

●   How do you ensure the property complies with safety regulations (e.g., gas safety,  electrical checks, EPC)? I had to submit all these certificates before a tenant could move in.

●   Do you assist with preparing tenancy agreements, and are they compliant with the latest legal requirements?

●   What experience do you have with handling disputes or legal issues like evictions?

5. Rent Collection and Management

●       How do you collect rent, and how often will rent be paid to me?

●       What is your process for dealing with rent arrears?

●       What kind of updates can I expect on property maintenance and repairs?

6. Repairs and Maintenance

●       How do you handle maintenance requests from tenants?

●       Do you have a list of approved contractors, or can I use my own? Watch out for another "hidden cost" subcontractor finder fee

●       What is your procedure for handling emergencies?

7. Communication and Transparency

●       Who will be my main point of contact, and how often will we communicate?

●       How do you handle tenant complaints and concerns?

8. Void Periods and Vacancies

●       What is your policy on void periods, and how do you minimize them?

●       Will I be charged during periods when the property is vacant?

9. Insurance

●       Do you offer rent guarantee insurance, or can you recommend a provider?

●       What landlord insurance options should I consider?

10. Track Record and References

●       How long have you been operating in this area, and can you provide references from other landlords?

●       What is your average tenancy length?

●       What percentage of your properties are fully managed versus tenant-find?

These questions will help you evaluate whether the agent is knowledgeable, transparent, and the right fit for managing your rental property.

With me living so far away, Vietnam, I went for the fully managed service and let my house out unfurnished. I didn't want the hassle of having to try and find a plumber for example to fix a washing machine or paying a finders fee for the Letting Agent finding one, you will probably find they have sub contractors to hand, which does help.