Preparing a house or apartment for rent.

1. Fix what a tenant will test in the first five minutes

Prospective tenants open taps, flick switches, test the toilet flush, open every window and look at the ceiling for water marks. Each small fault they find lowers the rent they are willing to pay and raises their expectation that other things are broken too.

• Repair leaking taps, cisterns and shower heads; confirm water pressure on the top floor.
• Replace blown bulbs and cracked sockets; confirm the meter and account are in order.
• Repaint scuffed walls in a neutral colour and deal with any damp patch at its source.
• Service or clean the water tank, gutters and drainage before the rains.

2. Decide what is included and write it down

Water, electricity, security, garbage collection, parking, internet, furniture and appliances are all common points of confusion. A one-page inclusions list attached to the tenancy agreement prevents most later disputes.

3. Prepare the paperwork before advertising

• A tenancy agreement reviewed by a lawyer, stating rent, deposit, payment date, notice period, maintenance responsibilities and rules on sub-letting.
• An inventory and condition report with dated photographs of every room, signed by both parties at handover.
• Evidence of your authority to let the property: title, lease or written authorisation from the owner.
• A clear receipt format for every payment received.

4. Price with evidence, not hope

Look at what similar properties in the same area are actually letting for, not what they are advertised at. Location, security, road access, water reliability and the condition of the finishes all move the achievable rent. A property that sits empty for three months at an ambitious price usually earns less over the year than one let promptly at the market rate.

5. Present it well

Clear, well-lit photographs of every room, the exterior, the compound and the access road do more work than any description. Remove personal items and clutter, open the curtains and photograph in daylight. A short walk-through video from the gate to the back door answers many questions before a viewing is booked.

6. Screen tenants respectfully and consistently

Ask every applicant for the same information: identification, current address, employment or business details and, where appropriate, a reference from a previous landlord. Meet them in person. Consistency protects you and makes the decision easier to explain.

7. Hand over properly

Walk the property together, confirm the condition report, record meter readings, hand over keys against a signed list and share your preferred contact route for repairs. A good handover sets the tone for the whole tenancy.