Thinking Of Renting Out Your Property?

WHILE the rest of the economy slows, the rental market continues to boom. In the city centre and more affluent suburbs, demand for good quality properties outstrips supply.

At Manchester City Sales and Lettings, the high-end estate agents and lettings agency based on Deansgate, they have waiting lists of people looking for rental properties. It's undoubtedly a landlord's market – and they're seeking more properties to add to their books.

Managing director Jennie Platt explains what type of properties they're interested in. “We have tenants waiting for city centre apartments, luxury apartments, and good-quality homes in areas like Prestwich, Didsbury, Chorlton and Hale.”

Manchester City Sales and Lettings supplies rental properties to individuals and corporate organisations who want to house their employees in well-presented apartments or family homes. The BBC, Manchester City and blue chip firms such as McGrigors, The Bank of Tokyo and HSBC are just a few of their clients.

“Landlords will be more profitable if they use us. Our services aren't cheap but they are very cost-effective – and we don't charge anything until your tenant is paying rent,” says Jennie.

So how long does it take to get to that point?

“We market properties for generally less two weeks before they let. And if your tenant moves out, we've get someone else in fast. In the last year, we've not had a void period in any of our properties of more than 24 hours.”

They work with professional landlords and people entering the letting market for the first time.

“We're seeing a lot of people who bought in the city centre a few years ago, and now want to move out, but it isn't the right time to sell. So they decide to rent it out.

“We do a rental evaluation and advise you on how to present the property to attract the best type of tenant. We can organise furniture if needed – we get it at about half the price you would see in the shops as we deal direct with large importers of rental furniture.”

“Then we market the property to our database, and tailor-make our services for you.”

This means they'll give you as much, or as little, assistance as you need.

“You might just want us to find the tenants or you might want us to manage the property fully so you don't have anything to do with it. Or we can part manage it – taking care of the specialist issues while you sort out the rest.

“Whatever service you want, we'll hold your hand throughout the process. We go way above and beyond because we are a smaller, family business.”

Jennie set up Manchester City Sales and Lettings with her sister Charlie Stapley-Platt and their childhood friend Corinne Kearns in 2009, after working in property sales and management for five years. They've got one of their cousins on the six-strong team, and their house-keeping company is ran by Jennie's Auntie Tracey and her granddad.

“We take pride in what we do as a family,” says Jennie. “We're not one of those letting agents who never pick up the phone. When you call us, you get through to someone who knows your property, who knows the area, and who will make sure you get an excellent service.”

If you are considering renting out your home, or if you have investment properties you need to let out fast, they would like to hear from you.

Says Jennie: “Many people will be thinking about renting out their home in the New Year. We say, talk to us now and we can get you set up so that you're ready to start making money come January.”

If you have a property to let or sell in Manchester city centre or an affluent suburb, Manchester City Sales and Lettings would like to hear from you. To get in touch, just fill in the form below.