There is a difference between finding a tenant and finding the right tenant. It sounds obvious but it shapes everything about how a letting should be approached, from how a property is presented and where it is advertised, to what kind of applicants it attracts and how they are assessed.

Being a landlord comes with responsibilities. The property is yours, the tenancy agreement has your name on it, and if something goes wrong, legally, practically or financially, you are the one who has to deal with it. None of this should put you off. But it does mean going in with your eyes open and making sure the basics are properly covered.

Conveyancing. It's one of those words that gets thrown around a lot when you're buying a home, but not many people actually know what it means. In short: it's the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from one person to another. Here's what actually happens.

While you are thinking through your next steps, this checklist is worth working through regardless of which direction you go. Getting your property into the right shape before it goes to market will help it let faster, attract better tenants, and set the tone for the entire tenancy.