All you need to know about property letting in Yorkshire

Letting guru Will Linley, of Linley & Simpson, answers your questions about the Yorkshire market

Q: Is January a good time to start letting my property or should I wait until spring?
Don’t wait! Demand for homes to rent is largely consistent all year round but the start of the new year traditionally heralds a post-Christmas upturn. It’s a good time to be a landlord as many people put off moving until after Christmas. January also brings a number of other factors that trigger demand like a change of job, a new school and the start or end of relationships.

Q: I’m looking to buy a property to let. Where in Yorkshire are the letting hotspots?
There is no shortage of hotspots in Yorkshire. Look for areas where there is demand for employment. Leeds, for example, holds a great lure for the typical tenant profile: a working young professional, as does York. And for those looking for family homes, the golden triangle between Harrogate, Wetherby and north Leeds, with its excellent schools and transport links, retains its popularity. An accredited letting agent will be able to give tailored advice, making every pound of your investment go as far as possible, depending on your position on the spectrum of risk and reward.

Q: How long should I expect my property to remain empty between rentals?
With demand continuing to outstrip supply, void periods are at their lowest level and are virtually non-existent in many sought-after areas of Yorkshire. Indeed, many properties are pre-let before they become vacant. The fact that many people are letting for longer periods, with an increasing number extending their tenancy agreements, is also a positive contributory factor. As long as homes are kept in good condition, are in a popular area and are marketed at a sensible monthly rent, empty periods between tenants should be minimal.

Q: I understand that competition for rental properties is currently high. What can I do to present myself as the perfect tenant?
Competition is high. We have the largest portfolio of homes to rent in Yorkshire but have eight applicants on our books for every property. This is the highest ratio of applicants to properties since we launched over a decade ago. The ability to move quickly and being in full-time employment are important, but you can also impress letting agents and landlords by going beyond the mandatory checks. As well as ensuring you have strong references from your employer and from previous landlords, you might want to identify a guarantor, especially if you’ve been in employment for only a short time.

Offering to rent a property for longer than the minimum six months tenancy will also sway your case, as will ensuring you meet conditions laid down in the tenancy like being a non-smoker and not having pets.

If you have any questions for our letting expert, email them to rebecca.baird@archant.co.uk

The print version of this article appeared in the January 2012  issue of Yorkshire Life 

We can deliver a copy direct to your door – order online here 

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