The rented property sector is booming in the UK at the moment, with many people forced to look for leased accommodation as they are not in a position to buy their own property.

Tenant demand is firmly outstripping supply and landlords are in a position to push rents up in many parts of the country.With this in mind, the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has issued some information on the subject and offered five guidelines to those looking to rent a home.

More than half of the organisation's landlords have recently reported having more tenants on their books than the number of properties they have to offer. It is therefore a homeowner's market, as they can afford to be picky when it comes to approving a renter. But it is worth noting there are still obstacles to overcome. Ian Potter, operations manager at ARLA, said: "Renting is often seen as a low-hassle, lower risk option when compared to purchasing a home, yet many people find the prospect of renting a home daunting, whatever their age or experience."

For a long and successful career as a landlord, it might be worth ironing out some of the issues that plague prospective tenants. According to the association, these are headed by the location of the property. While landlords can always get a builder or decorator in to add value or improve the state of their homes, the one thing they cannot change is where they are placed.So it is worth choosing to invest in homes that are located in a desirable postcode with plenty of rental demand.

Areas where house prices are likely to rise are also popular. Official government figures produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government recently showed London and the south-east experienced the greatest rises in values in the year to January. Other issues often raised by tenants include the security of their deposit, the authenticity of letting agents, the type of tenancy agreement on offer and the use of a professional inventory.

Landlords who have had a lot of work carried out on their properties – perhaps by professional locksmiths, electricians and plasterers – should create a document accurately reflecting the state and content of their home when they hand it over. There is undoubtedly plenty of money to be made by becoming a landlord, but it will pay in the long run to do things properly and avoid any short cuts that may lead to tenants avoiding payments or requesting compensation in the future.

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