Found Yourself with a Spare Property in Bristol? Here’s How to Rent It Out Without the Headache
Whether you’re relocating for work, moving in with a partner, or heading abroad for a year or two. Regardless the circumstance, you’ve now got a property in Bristol that’s sitting empty. And naturally, you’re wondering if you should rent it out.
Welcome to the world of accidental landlords. You didn’t plan for this but now you need to make a smart, stress-free decision about what to do next.
At Front Door Lettings, we specialise in helping first-time and accidental landlords across Bristol turn their spare properties into reliable income without getting buried in red tape, tenant dramas, or late-night repair calls.
Here’s what you need to know to get started and how we can help every step of the way.
What Exactly Is an Accidental Landlord?
You’re not alone. Plenty of people in Bristol become landlords by circumstance rather than design. Maybe you’re:
- Moving abroad for work or travel
- Relocating to a new part of the UK
- Moving in with a partner and keeping your old place
- Inheriting a family home
Whatever the reason, you’ve got a perfectly good property that could be earning you rental income. But letting a property in the UK, even short-term, means meeting a long list of legal and practical obligations.
That’s where we come in as your letting experts and partner.
Step One: Check If You Can Rent It Out
Before anything else, you need to confirm:
- Mortgage Permission – If you’re on a residential mortgage, you’ll need to get consent to let from your lender or switch to a buy-to-let product.
- Insurance – Standard home insurance won’t cover tenancies. You’ll need specialist landlord insurance to protect yourself and the property.
- Leasehold Terms – If the property is leasehold, double-check whether subletting is allowed.
We’ll walk you through these steps and can point you toward trusted mortgage and insurance advisors if needed.
Step Two: Get the Property Rental-Ready
First impressions matter. Bristol tenants expect clean, safe, well-maintained homes. Depending on the property’s current condition, you might need to:
- Repaint or refresh certain rooms
- Invest in basic furnishing (if letting furnished)
- Service the boiler and gas appliances
- Clear out personal items
We can advise on what’s worth spending money on and what to leave as-is to attract the right tenants without overspending.
Step Three: Tick Off the Legal Requirements
Even first-time landlords need to comply with a long list of legal requirements, including:
- EPC Certificate – Must be valid and rated E or above
- Gas Safety Certificate – Renewed annually
- Electrical Safety Report (EICR) – Must be valid and then renewed every 5 years
- Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms – Must be installed and working on check-in
- Deposit Protection – Tenants’ deposits must be held in a government-approved scheme
- Right to Rent Checks – You must verify that tenants have the legal right to rent in the UK
- Legally Compliant Tenancy Agreement – Protects you and your tenant
At Front Door Lettings, we handle all of this for you. We don’t just find you a tenant but ensure your property is fully compliant with current legislation, so you don’t need to worry about unexpected fines or legal pitfalls.
Step Four: Understand Your Tenancy Options
You might only want to let the property out for a year or two — or you might end up renting it longer than you think. Either way, we’ll help you choose the right setup:
- Fixed-Term AST – Most accidental landlords opt for a 6- or 12-month assured shorthold tenancy (AST)
- Furnished or Unfurnished? – We’ll advise what Bristol tenants are looking for in your area and the best option for your property.
- Single Let or HMO? – Depending on the property type, we can assess the best rental strategy to maximise returns
Step Five: Set the Right Rent & Market Effectively
We know the Bristol rental market inside out. From the student focused Filton, professional city centre rentals, through to cottages on the outskirts, we’ll give you an honest valuation based on current demand and recent lets — not just a rough guess or online calculator.
We handle the full marketing process, including:
- High-quality photos and floor plans
- Listings on Rightmove, Zoopla, and On the Market
- Pre-qualifying enquiries to save time
- Accompanied viewings and detailed feedback
Once the right tenant is found, we’ll handle referencing, contracts, deposit registration, and move-in coordination.
Step Six: Decide How Hands-On You Want to Be
Letting your property isn’t just about finding a tenant, it’s about managing that relationship, keeping up with maintenance, and staying compliant year-round.
If you’re staying local and like the DIY route, we offer a let-only service to help you get started. But if you’re moving away or simply want peace of mind, our fully managed service means we take care of:
- Rent collection and monthly statements
- Maintenance issues and contractor management
- Regular property inspections
- Ongoing legal compliance and safety updates
- End-of-tenancy check-outs and deposit disputes
You don’t need to know the ins and outs of property law or spend your weekends fixing boilers — we’ll handle it all under your name.
Why Work With Front Door Lettings?
We’re not just here to hand over keys. We’re your expert partner in making accidental landlord life simple and profitable, our fully managed letting plans take all the stress away for you.
✅ Friendly, jargon-free advice for first-timers
✅ Full legal compliance handled for you
✅ Trusted trades and local market knowledge
✅ Digital tenant onboarding and hands-free management
✅ A dedicated property manager you can actually get hold of
Got Questions?
We’re always happy to chat, whether you’re ready to list your property or just want to understand your options. There’s no pressure — just helpful, honest advice. We work with landlords just moving across the country, through to ones moving to Australia.
Call us, email, or pop in for a coffee. Let’s make your first step into letting simple, safe, and successful.
