Can you change letting agents with a tenant already in place?
Yes.
Having a tenant already living in your property does not automatically mean waiting until they leave before changing who manages it.
The tenancy agreement and the management agreement are separate arrangements. Changing who manages the property does not bring the existing tenancy to an end.
What happens to your tenant?
Changing agent is primarily a change in who manages the property on your behalf, not a change to the tenancy agreement.
Your tenant will need to know when the change is taking place, who will be managing the property from that point, who to contact and where future rent payments should be made.
The circumstances of the existing tenancy still matter. There may be issues already being dealt with, or things that need attention as part of the changeover. Understanding the tenancy as it currently stands is therefore an important part of taking over its management.
Before you make the change
One thing worth establishing early is what has been agreed with your current agent.
Their Terms of Business should set out how the management arrangement can be ended, including any notice requirements or costs involved.
The next question is who will manage the property instead.
You may already have another agent in mind. If so, you will need to establish whether they are happy to take over the existing tenancy, what their management service includes and what they charge.
If you haven't chosen anyone yet, the reason you want to change may give you a useful starting point. Consider what you actually want from the management of your property, then look for an agent whose service, approach and fees make sense for what you need.
Once you've decided to change, what actually happens?
There is information to transfer, the existing tenancy and property need to be understood, and your tenant needs to know when the new management arrangements take effect.
But you do not necessarily have to coordinate that changeover yourself.
Once you have chosen a new managing agent and the arrangements with your current agent have been established, the incoming agent can coordinate the practical handover with the outgoing agent on your behalf.
Can Property23 take over an existing tenancy?
Yes, Property23 provides full residential property management in Lancaster and the surrounding areas and can take over the management of a property with a tenant already in place.
The first step is simply to talk to us about your property, the existing tenancy and what you are looking for from its management.
From there, it can be established whether we're the right fit for you and your property, and what would be involved in taking over the management.
It all starts with a conversation. Let's talk about your property.