UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi all, agency found tenants quickly - and they want to move in quickly - all sounds good.  I am planning on managing property myself as I have lots of contacts to do any repairs (tho is relatively new house so dont expect there to be any/many).  agent has suggested I meet the tenants at the handover,give them my bank details/phone number etc..is this the norm?  is it a good thing to meet them?  I suppose I will need to as I will have to do inspections?  how often should these be done if they become a long term tenant (fingers crossed)?  I think my feet are just feeling a little cold right now !!

My advice would be to meet them BEFORE signing the AST. Run quarterly inspections. Get a professional inventory done and word the contract to ensure they are liable for the cost of the check-out inventory.

Take Poris advice.  Do not meet them for the first time once the deal is done.  I do all my own viewings and actively put prospective tenants off whom I don't like.  You've said you are going to 'manage' the tenancy, what you're actually doing is managing people.  You will be dealing with these people for at least 6 months why wouldn't you want to know what they are like before you hand over your assets to them?

It will definitely become real when you have to deal with Wayne and waynetta slob or the most fussy obnoxious demanding people you could imagine.  Check them out now.

The agent who found the tenants couldn't give a toss what they are like.  As long as they paid the fees, passed the checks, they get paid.

They have paid the first rent installment before this handover, correct? I'd assume so, but it just prompted me to ask when you talk about providing bank details. What's happened with the deposit? I get the deposit paid as early as possible, then I can submit it, have it cleared, get the details printed-off and have the stuff signed at check-in / handover.

In this respect, I must admit, the question about whether you should meet the Tenants sounds a little bit odd (to me). Emphatically yes.