Renting My Place out - Estate Agent, Lawyer or Rental Agency?

[Recruitsmiths]

Hi there, Forumites - am in a quandary, as I've never been in this situation before, so seek some advice.
I've been offered a possible 2 x year contract, one I cannot turn down in these times, however it is far from home (Midrand).
I do have a prospective tenant and am not sure whether I should have a Rental Agency / Estate Agent or a lawyer handle the collection of monthly rentals.
I have read (on MyBB) too many horror stories of Tenants not paying, creating damages or even trying to legally get them out after they default payment seems to be mission impossible!
Any foolproof way of binding them into a legal contract that would ensure I receive the payments due every month. I also have to pay rentals where I will be going and will not be able to afford running back & forth (at my expense) to sort out these type of issues.
Would appreciate any substantial advice or recommendations....thanks!

 

[Fafa]

All of the above mentioned options like Estate agents etc will not really lessen the burden you have. It is always best to do it privately.

 

[iDOL]

Easiest way is to go via rentmaster equillore. I personally use them for a number of my rental properties. They vet the tenant and then via a policy through guardrisk they underwrite the rental and guarantee they will pay you irrespective of the tenant pays or not for a period of 3 months. They will also handle any eviction actions and legal costs up to an amount of about R120k.

Gives me peace of mind, limited or no worries for me.

 

[Archer]

I was about to post something about this before the power cut out
Is there anything to look out for when going private (from the landlords perspective). I've done my research, but myBB experience trumps all

 

[Recruitsmiths]

I was about to post something about this before the power cut out
Is there anything to look out for when going private (from the landlords perspective). I've done my research, but myBB experience trumps all

We also had a power out for the past 3 hours...and we are in Midrand...shows then, Eskom is load shedding already...

 

[Recruitsmiths]

iDOL ~ Thanks for the advice, but is "rentmaster equillore" a South African organization? Any details to them will be apreciated...

Fafa...thanks for your input, would do it personally if I were in the area, but as I said will be far away.....

 

[Recruitsmiths]

iDOL ~ Thanks for the advice, but is "rentmaster equillore" a South African organization? Any details to them will be apreciated...

Fafa...thanks for your input, would do it personally if I were in the area, but as I said will be far away.....

 

[Recruitsmiths]

iDOL...I found them, not to worry...rentmaster.co.za