There are many landlords in the country who have a large portfolio of property to rent and who are well aware of the laws and legislation and the pitfalls and problems. However, some homeowners end up renting out their homes for a short period of time – perhaps because they are going abroad for a while or maybe they have bought a new home before finding a buyer for their current home.

Whatever the reason, here are a few tips to make the renting process run more smoothly.

Do find a good letting agent who will find and screen tenants on your behalf, advertise your property for rent, draw up contracts and conduct the inventory when tenants move in. Your letting agent should also provide a Gas Safety Certificate for tenants.

Make sure your letting agent is aware of the type of tenants you require. Are you happy to rent to families with young children? Do you mind smokers or pet owners moving in?

Smarten up your house before putting it on the rental market. Make sure you paint walls in a neutral colour and that flooring is clean.

Do make sure that you thoroughly clean your home before you rent it out. It may be worth hiring a team of cleaners for a day to make sure everything is sparkling. If it is thoroughly clean, before tenants move in, then you can insist that tenants leave your home in the same state when they move out.

Leave a folder containing instruction manuals for the boiler and central heating system, the oven and other white goods. Make sure you leave any keys which might be needed to open gas and electricity meters.