Taylor Engley offer a comprehensive letting service, backed by a knowledgeable team with years of experience. We provide our landlords with peace of mind through meticulous property management, rent collection, and tenancy management. Our strong online presence across key platforms such as Rightmove, Zoopla, On The Market and Prime Location ensures wide visibility for rental properties, attracting a broad pool of potential tenants. Rigorous tenant screening, including credit and income checks, is standard practice. We also arrange compliance essentials for managed properties, including necessary testing and maintenance.

For expert advice and a hassle-free letting experience, Taylor Engley are the trusted choice.

Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Landlord and Letting Your Property

Whether you already own a rental property or are considering letting out your current home, becoming a landlord involves more than simply finding a tenant.

You’ll need to understand what your property could rent for, decide how much of the letting and management process you want to handle yourself, meet your responsibilities as a landlord and find suitable tenants for your property.

This guide explains the key things to consider before letting a property in Eastbourne, including how rental valuations work, how to choose a letting agent and the difference between a let-only and fully managed service.

Taylor Engley has been helping landlords and tenants in Eastbourne and the surrounding areas for over 25 years. Whether you’re an experienced landlord with a portfolio of properties or considering letting a property for the first time, our team is here to provide practical, professional advice.

Why Landlords Choose Taylor Engley

Taylor Engley is an independent estate and letting agency that has served Eastbourne and the surrounding area since 1978, with more than 25 years of experience in residential lettings.

Our approach is built around local knowledge, professional advice and personal service.

As members of NAEA Propertymark and The Property Ombudsman, we are committed to professional standards and accountability.

Most importantly, we understand that your property is a significant asset. Whether you need help finding a tenant or want an experienced team to manage the property on your behalf, we’ll take the time to understand what y

Your Questions, Answered

Should I Rent Out My Property?

There are many reasons you might be considering becoming a landlord.

You may have inherited a property, be moving elsewhere without wanting to sell your existing home, be considering property as a longer-term investment, or already own a rental property and be reviewing your options.

Before deciding to let, it’s worth considering the decision from both a financial and practical perspective.

Questions to think about include:

• What could the property realistically achieve in rent?
• What costs will you need to allow for?
• Is there strong tenant demand for this type of property?
• Do you want to manage the tenancy yourself?
• Are you prepared for periods when the property may be empty?
• Do you understand your responsibilities as a landlord?
• Will letting the property fit with your longer-term financial and property plans?

An experienced local letting agent can help you understand the likely rental value and demand for your property before you make a decision.

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How Much Could My Property Rent For?

The amount of rent a property can achieve depends on several factors, including its location, size, condition, specification and current demand from tenants.

Even properties with a similar number of bedrooms can command different rents depending on their individual characteristics.

For example, factors such as parking, outside space, proximity to transport links, presentation and the precise location of the property can influence tenant demand.

A rental valuation should therefore consider both comparable properties and what is happening in the local rental market at the time.

Taylor Engley’s lettings team can assess your property and provide an indication of the rent we believe it could realistically achieve in the current Eastbourne market.

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How Do I Choose a Letting Agent?

Choosing a letting agent is an important decision, particularly if you’re asking them to manage your property on your behalf.

A good letting agent shouldn’t simply advertise the property and find somebody willing to rent it. They should help you navigate the letting process, find suitable tenants and, where instructed to manage the property, act as a reliable point of contact throughout the tenancy.

When comparing letting agents in Eastbourne, there are several things worth considering.

Do They Understand the Local Rental Market?

Local knowledge matters.

Your letting agent should understand rental demand across Eastbourne and the surrounding area, the types of properties tenants are looking for and what similar properties are achieving.

This helps when setting an appropriate asking rent and deciding how best to market your property.

How Will They Find and Assess Tenants?

Ask how prospective tenants are handled from enquiry through to application.

A professional letting service should have a clear process for marketing the property, arranging viewings, assessing applications and carrying out the appropriate referencing and checks before a tenancy begins.

What Happens After the Tenant Moves In?

This is particularly important.

Some landlords only need help finding a tenant. Others want their letting agent to remain involved throughout the tenancy.

Make sure you understand exactly what is included in the service you’re considering and who will deal with matters such as maintenance, inspections and communication with tenants.

How Will They Communicate With You?

Good property management depends heavily on communication.

Ask who your point of contact will be, how maintenance issues are handled and how you’ll be kept informed about your property.

Do They Understand Landlord Responsibilities?

The private rented sector has a significant regulatory framework, and landlords need to understand the requirements that apply to their property and tenancy.

A knowledgeable letting agent should be able to explain the practical requirements involved and help you understand where your responsibilities remain as the landlord.

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Let Only or Fully Managed: Which Is Right for Me?

One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is how involved you want to be once your property has been let.

There are two broad approaches.

Let Only

A let-only service can suit landlords who are comfortable managing the ongoing tenancy themselves but want professional help finding and setting up a suitable tenant.

The letting agent typically handles the initial stages of the process before the landlord takes responsibility for the ongoing management of the tenancy.

This may appeal to experienced landlords who live locally, have the time to manage their property and are comfortable dealing directly with tenants and maintenance issues.

Fully Managed

A fully managed service provides ongoing support after a tenant moves into the property.

Rather than becoming the tenant’s day-to-day point of contact yourself, your managing agent takes a much more active role in looking after the tenancy and property on your behalf.

This can be particularly useful if you:

• Don’t live close to the property
• Have a busy working or family life
• Own several rental properties
• Don’t want to deal directly with maintenance issues
• Are a first-time landlord
• Prefer professional support throughout the tenancy

Neither option is automatically right for every landlord. The important thing is choosing the level of support that suits your experience, circumstances and how hands-on you want to be.

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What Does Property Management Include?

The exact service provided varies between letting agents, so it’s important to understand what you’re paying for.

A managed letting service may involve ongoing areas such as:

• Acting as a point of contact for tenants
• Rent collection
• Coordinating maintenance and repairs
• Arranging property inspections
• Managing communication throughout the tenancy
• Supporting tenancy renewals or changes
• Helping landlords keep on top of relevant property and tenancy requirements
• Dealing with issues that arise during the tenancy

For many landlords, the biggest benefit isn’t simply saving time. It’s having an experienced team available to deal with the day-to-day issues involved in letting a property.

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What Am I Still Responsible for as a Landlord?

Using a letting agent doesn’t remove the property owner’s legal responsibilities.

Landlords have obligations relating to the property, the tenancy and the safety of their tenants. The exact requirements can depend on the property and circumstances, and legislation can change over time.

This is one of the reasons professional management can be valuable: an experienced letting agent can help you understand what needs to be done and coordinate many of the practical aspects of managing the tenancy.

However, you remain the landlord and should make sure you understand your responsibilities rather than assuming everything automatically transfers to your agent.

For current information affecting landlords, visit our latest Landlord Advice and Property Insights.

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What Costs Should I Consider Before Letting My Property?

When calculating whether letting a property makes financial sense, don’t look at the headline monthly rent alone.

Depending on your property and circumstances, you may need to budget for costs such as:

• Letting or property management fees
• Maintenance and repairs
• Safety checks and certification
• Insurance
• Mortgage costs
• Periods when the property is unoccupied
• Professional fees where required
• Tax on rental income, depending on your circumstances

There may also be occasional larger expenses associated with maintaining the property over the longer term.

Understanding these costs before letting helps you make a more realistic assessment of the potential return from your property.

For tax or financial advice specific to your circumstances, you should speak to an appropriately qualified professional.

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What Happens When a Tenant Is Found?

Finding somebody who wants to rent the property is only part of the process.

Before a tenancy begins, there are a number of practical steps to complete. Depending on the property and service being provided, these can include assessing the tenant’s application, referencing, completing the required checks and documentation, arranging the tenancy agreement and preparing the property for occupation.

Once everything is ready, the tenant can move in and the ongoing tenancy begins.

If you’ve chosen a let-only service, this is generally the point at which you become responsible for managing the ongoing relationship with your tenant.

With a fully managed service, your letting agent remains involved and manages the tenancy on your behalf in accordance with the agreed service.

More Frequently Asked Questions About Letting a Property

Do I Need a Letting Agent to Rent Out My Property?

No. It is possible to manage a rental property yourself.

However, you’ll be responsible for managing the tenancy, dealing with tenants and maintenance, and understanding and meeting the requirements that apply to you as a landlord.

Some landlords are comfortable doing this themselves, while others prefer to use a letting agent for some or all of the process.

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Should I Use a Fully Managed Letting Service?

It depends on how involved you want to be.

If you have the time, experience and confidence to manage the tenancy yourself, a let-only service may provide the support you need.

If you’d prefer somebody else to handle much of the ongoing day-to-day management, a fully managed service may be more appropriate.

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Can Taylor Engley Manage My Property if I Don’t Live in Eastbourne?

A managed service can be particularly useful for landlords who don’t live close to their rental property because the letting agent can provide a local point of contact for the tenancy.

Speak to our lettings team about your property and circumstances and we can explain the support available.

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How Long Does It Take to Find a Tenant?

There is no single answer because demand varies according to the property, location, asking rent, presentation and market conditions.

Setting a realistic rent and presenting the property effectively can help attract suitable prospective tenants.

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How Do I Know What Rent to Charge?

Rental value should be based on the individual property and current local market rather than simply copying the asking rent of another property online.

Our lettings team can provide a rental valuation based on the property itself and current demand in the Eastbourne market.

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Can I Change From Managing My Property Myself to Using a Letting Agent?

Potentially, yes.

If you’re already a landlord but are finding self-management increasingly time-consuming, speak to our team about your existing tenancy and the management support you’re looking for.