Date Published 07 August 2026
When demand for rental homes is high, finding someone who wants to rent your property isn't normally the difficult part.
Put a decent property online at the right price and you may receive enquiries almost immediately.
The difficult part is choosing the right applicant and then managing the tenancy properly once they have moved in.
Move-in day isn't the finish line. It's the beginning of what could be a relationship lasting several years.
A reference report doesn't tell you everything
Referencing is important. It helps check an applicant's identity, income, employment, credit history and previous rental experience.
However, referencing reduces risk—it doesn't remove it.
A computer-generated report cannot guarantee that someone will pay their rent on time, look after the property or communicate sensibly when there is a problem.
Good tenant selection also involves looking at the complete application, checking whether the property is genuinely suitable, following up inconsistencies and using experience and judgement.
That doesn't mean making assumptions about people. It means applying a fair, consistent process to every applicant and properly verifying the information provided.
The paperwork matters too
Once an applicant has been accepted, there is still plenty to do.
The tenancy must be set up correctly, the required information provided and the deposit handled in accordance with the law. A tenancy deposit generally needs to be protected in an approved scheme within 30 days, with the correct prescribed information supplied to the tenant.
A detailed inventory is also essential.
Without a good record of the property's condition at the beginning of the tenancy, it can be extremely difficult to prove that damage occurred or justify deductions from the deposit later.
Photographs are helpful, but they need to be clear, dated and supported by a proper written description.
What happens after the keys are handed over?
Successful property management continues throughout the tenancy.
Rent needs monitoring, repairs need arranging and inspections should be conducted at sensible intervals. Safety certificates and compliance records must remain up to date, and communication with the tenant needs to be properly documented.
If the tenant does begin struggling with their rent, early action is vital. Leaving it for several months and hoping they catch up usually makes the situation worse for everyone.
The same applies to maintenance. A tenant mentioning a small damp patch may not sound urgent, but ignoring it could eventually lead to a much larger repair bill.
Marketing fills properties—management protects tenancies
Finding an applicant is something almost anyone can attempt online.
Selecting the right tenant, setting the tenancy up correctly and keeping it running smoothly requires considerably more work.
At Lewis Dean Letting Agents, we don't consider our job finished when a tenant collects the keys. That is when the real management begins.
If you have a rental property in Poole and want help finding and managing the right tenant, get in touch for a straightforward conversation about your options.
