Advertising on Rightmove

Landlord Discussion
1

Hi fellow landlords,

As a new OpenRent user, please pour your thoughts how advertising on Rightmove beside OpenRent has helped or added extra benefits?

Currently my property is with free advertising and performing well but I still have not finalised any yet or can say that I am still looking for suitable applicant.

Will Rightmove help?

Thanks

2

RightMove is essential in my opinion. Better quality and volume of applicants.

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3

If you were finding tenants through an agent, they would all include a listing on rightmove - there’s a reason for that, ie rightmove is the first place people look. Some will also advertise on zoopla or elsewhere.

You may find a suitable tenant simply with the free OR listing.

Or for £29 quid more you can get a listing onto Rightmove via ‘hello neighbour’ Letting Self-Service Products [openrent is £58 inc tenancy creation, hello neighbour inc tenancy creation is £59 but includes somebody you can speak to by 'phone]

best

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Thank you @Mark10

Can I ask more about your OpenRent experience?

My major concern and worry is tenant not/ stop paying rent and then evicting the wrong ones.

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5

@David240 your replies are very detailed and extremely helpful.

As I wrote to @Mark10 - my main worry and concern is tenants not/stop paying rent and then going through the pain of eviction.

6

that’s why you should check affordability, past history of paying rent [check on the statements for the rent amounts paid each month, as well as income], get referencing reports [these check employer, income, payments made, ID], and if possible get a guarantor and RGI

best

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7

Have you used hello neighbour? I considered this recently but ended up with openrent again because of familiarity and time was against me.

emoov is another with right move publishing thats similarly priced.

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Been using openrent for over 10 years, however I self manage everything. I simply use open rent for its rightmove listing exposure and sometimes for referencing/credit check.

Contract creation, tradespeople, gas safe, eicr etc, deposit registration and document serving I all handle myself, after all nobody will care about it as much as I do!

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9

True. We also self managed it while paying monthly fees to Agents.

As we are local and have been managing our property by ourselves, we decided to try Open Rent.

We have been getting lot more interest, but the question we face is to choose the right tenant.

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Same question we all face . Head not heart. Ignore sob stories . Ignore those in a rush to move in. Go with you gut feeling

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Before, when OR included Rightmove, there were more applicants. The last two times I’ve only used zoopla, included in the package, and I got less volume but no problem finding suitable tenants.

If you’re in a less sought after area it might be worth it. But a well priced apartment in good condition in a decent neighbourhood will be fine anyways.

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read complete guide to residential letting by Tessa Sheperson

It’s out of date but it covers everything or read her website to get better instruction

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13

Thank you for your reply.

One more question - and do you get quality tenants who pays rent on time and look after your property?

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@Keta

That’s going to depend on the LL and what screening and referencing the LL does. Bad tenants are just as likely to apply when they see an ad on rightmove as a good tenant.

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Absolutely. In 9 years I have had exactly zero late payments, zero access problems and no issues with deposit deductions/damages.

One reason, I think, is that I have set viewing times. If they can’t do them (find the time out of their “busy” schedule) they won’t have the right mindset for me.

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@Keta

There a good set of initial questions to ask before viewings here

"I send a standard message to each applicant who requests a viewing, with the following questions to help me assess affordability and suitability:

  • How many adults would be living in the property, and please let me have the ages of the children.
  • What is the relationship between the adults (eg a couple, family members (sister, parent), friends)?
  • What is your occupation and the occupation of any adults who would be living there?
  • Please confirm the salary and other income of each adult who would be living there.
  • How long would you plan to live in this property?
  • What is your connection to [town]?
  • Where are you living now and why are you looking to move?
  • What is the breed and age of your pet (if applicable)?
  • Have you ever had any CCJs and if so, please provide details.
  • Is the property for yourself? If not, explain why you are asking to view for someone else. Please do not apply if you are a rent to renter or another intermediary.

I added the last question after having people pretending to be interested in the property, but turning out to be rent-to-renters or agencies. There’s an option to report these people who pose as genuine renters, which I duly did.

>> Related Post: What is Rent to Rent?

My detailed list of questions was also invaluable in weeding out sharers who would turn it into an HMO. Although my properties aren’t in areas with additional licensing for small HMOs (over 4 sharers from at least 2 different households), I prefer single lets with one household, rather than a small HMO."

(See bottom of post)

Best