9 advantages of a letting agent in The Hague

You own a house or flat and are considering to let the property. With the housing market thriving, this is not a bad idea. Letting your property may seem easy, but the housing market is complex. There’s a lot involved in letting a property. It can be difficult to find suitable tenants, conflicts can arise, tenancy agreements have to comply with legal requirements, the property may need maintenance or even repairs, and so on. Letting a property can quickly become a full-time job.

A letting agent in The Hague knows exactly which regulations apply to the area and knows the market in detail. In addition, a letting agent takes over all kinds of work, so that letting a property isn’t a full-time job anymore. But what does a letting agent actually do? What is the advantage of hiring a letting agent in The Hague?

What is a letting agent?

A letting agent is not the same as a regular selling agent. A letting agent is hired by the landlord of a property. In fact, a letting agent is an intermediary between the owner of a property and the tenant. He or she mediates between the landlord and a potential tenant and arranges (parts of) the letting process. From the presentation, promotion and viewings, to the tenants selection procedure, financial checks, negotiation and the letting contract.

What does a letting agent do?

Advising on the rental price
Promoting the property to his or her network (expats, companies, fellow agents)
Placing advertisements on property websites
Selecting candidates
Accompanying viewings
Carrying out financial checks on potential tenants
Drawing up a rental agreement
Performing inspection and key handover
…and more!

Why let your property through a letting agent in The Hague?

We offer the option to hire a letting agent in The Hague to arrange the entire letting process from A to Z. We have listed the nine biggest advantages of hiring a letting agent in The Hague:

1. Expertise

It takes a tremendous amount of time to become an expert in the field of letting. And that’s not even considering the peripheral matters, such as promoting and presenting a property and the selection process. Why would you invest time and energy in becoming an expert yourself, when letting agents already have both the training and years of experience?

2. Faster letting

Because a letting agent has so much experience and is a specialist, letting a property through an agent is always faster than having to find tenants yourself. For example, your property will not just be listed on the agency’s website, but also on well-known websites such as Funda and Pararius. A letting agent actively promotes your property. In addition to listing websites, social media is also used to ensure that your property receives extensive exposure. Furthermore, a letting agent often has interesting contacts.

You can therefore expect a letting agent in The Hague to be in contact with large organisations. There are hundreds of international government organisations, embassies and a number of large multinationals in The Hague. Expats who come to work in the Netherlands temporarily, for about 1 to 2 years, naturally prefer renting a property. Expat relocation is often arranged by relocation agents. A letting agent in The Hague often has close ties with relocation agents, large companies with international staff and expat networks. Thanks to these close ties and the extensive network in the area, your property will often be let quickly.

3. Knowledge of the neighbourhood

A letting agent in The Hague knows everything about the different neighbourhoods. This allows the agent to use detailed and comprehensive information about the neighbourhood to find the right tenants, but also to identify comparable rental prices and present these to you. In consultation with you as the owner, a letting agent determines the rental price for the property. The letting agent’s knowledge of the neighbourhood is indispensable in making the right choice. For tenants, additional information about matters such as the presence of schools, shops, public transport, etc. is important for their decision-making.

4. Higher rental income

Because the letting agent knows The Hague so well, he or she also knows the market well. This is not surprising, given that the letting agent has seen and inspected so many different properties. That is why the letting agent knows the right rental price for your property. After all, you don’t want to run the risk of your property not being let because the price is too high. But you don’t want to set the price too low either, because then you’ll lose money every month. The letting agent has a large client base in The Hague and knows how to find potential tenants through targeted marketing. This allows the letting agent to get the most out of your property and ensure the rental price is as high as possible. Where possible, the letting agent also provides advice or assistance with home styling, which can help to maximise the rental price. In short: you enjoy the optimal rental income.

5. No worries about laws and regulations

The Hague also has additional rules that you, as a landlord, need to be aware of. For example, the rules regarding the housing permit. Because the letting agent knows The Hague like the back of their hand, they’ re also familiar with all the rules that apply to you as a landlord. In addition to the specific regional rules, there are of course other rules that you, as a landlord, must comply with. You may also have your own wishes that you want to include in the tenancy contract.

What is and what isn’t allowed? Figuring out all the rules and fine print is quite the task. By hiring a letting agent, you will be guided by an expert. This means you don’t have to worry about what you can and cannot include in the contract and how the legislation on letting works. In addition to arranging the contract and sorting out all the rules, the letting agent will also take care of the other paperwork. This will save you a lot of problems and hassle that you could have letting the property yourself.

6. No bad tenants

You know what it’s like: tenants who don’t rent with the right intentions. They pay late, or not at all, carry out illegal activities in your property or sublet your property. In short, every landlord’s nightmare: a “bad tenant”. You usually can’t recognise them; these people are masters of disguise and manipulation. Thanks to years of experience, a letting agent in The Hague can usually recognise a “bad tenant” at a glance. And if this isn’t apparent during the initial interview, it’s guaranteed to come to light during the extensive screening process.

7. No arguments & fewer conflicts

A comprehensive screening is not only intended to weed out “bad tenants”, but also to reduce the chances of ending up in a time-consuming and energy-sapping conflict with the tenant. In this procedure, the letting agent checks the potential tenant’s details. First and foremost, the person’s financial situation is examined. To minimise the chance of a tenant having problems with payment later on, the interested party is asked about their income. In addition, a letting agent can check additional information, for example by requesting information from previous landlords. This allows the letting agent to identify which candidates are likely to have problems with payment or other conflicts and reject these individuals as tenants for your property.

Nevertheless, disagreements may arise about the exact content of the tenancy agreement, for example regarding who is responsible for certain maintenance or any damages caused by the tenant. In addition, even after thorough screening, a tenant may still be unable or unwilling to pay the rent (in the future). You will then have to chase the tenant to get the money you are entitled to. Such a conflict is a major fear for every landlord. It takes a lot of time and causes stress. In this case, it is also a great advantage to hire a letting agent. He or she has more experience with such situations and can resolve conflicts for you in a professional manner. You won’t have to worry about discussions or other conflicts.

8. No time wasted on management and service

Most letting agents offer various service packages. If you really want to let your property in the best possible way and free of worries, you can opt for a full service package. In addition to all the points mentioned above, the letting agent will then also take care of the management and service associated with letting a property. This means that all communication with the tenant will be handled by the letting agent rather than by you, as landlord.

For example, the tenant may accidentally lock themselves out, or the water pipe may leak, or there may be a delay in payment. All of this is reported by the letting agent and action is immediately taken. Tenants can also contact the letting agent with any questions or problems. Since there is a good chance that your property will be let to an expat, it is particularly convenient that the letting agent keeps an eye on everything and is the point of contact. Expats are new to The Hague, and possibly also to the Netherlands, and therefore often have questions and need help.

9. Less vacancy

As a landlord, you don’t want your property to be vacant. Vacancy means that you will not receive any rental income during that period, while the costs of your property will continue to accrue. That is why you want to keep the period of vacancy as short as possible. A letting agent can help you achieve this. A letting agent in The Hague knows how to bring a particular property to the attention of potential tenants.

Due to years of experience in The Hague, the letting agent knows the neighbourhood and the housing market so he or she can also advise you on a market-based rental price. In addition, the letting agent minimises vacancy by presenting the property on the right websites, utilising his or her extensive network with a wide variety of clients and ensuring the property is easy to find online. Beautiful, visual content is, of course, essential. That is why the letting agent in The Hague also provides an attractive visual presentation.

Would you like to let your property in The Hague through Interhouse?

It is wise to outsource the letting of your property to a letting agent in The Hague: an experienced specialist who knows the Hague market inside and out. Tasks such as determining the current and optimal rental price, the additional legal matters concerning rental legislation, tenant protection and correctly applying the right model rental agreement require professional knowledge. Reaching out to and thoroughly screening high-quality (expat) tenants also requires specialist knowledge and experience. To let a property well is a real craft.

Interhouse letting agents have been practising this craft for over 25 years and have a wealth of experience. They guarantee verifiably added value from their services. What’s more, you can count on clear communication throughout the entire collaboration.

Looking for a rental property in The Hague or curious about the rental properties in The Hague we offer? Then click here!

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