Make yourself attractive to landlords, tenants are told

In order for a landlord to take a tenant on and let them live in their property, there needs to be a degree of trust.

Therefore, it is important that when looking at homes to rent, potential residents make themselves appear to be the best possible package.

References can play a bit part in this, either from an employer or previous landlord. It should detail a reliability to pay bills on time, whether the property was kept in a tidy state and any other issues.

James Davis, chief executive of Upad.co.uk, said tenants should be able to provide bank statements to evidence that deposits have been paid.

It is important to remember that because of the current housing market, competition is likely to be high for rental homes. There will be more tenants than supply of property and therefore househunters must do all they can to stand out from the crowd.

From a landlord's point of view, they need to consider where tenants are going to find their next abode. Online is playing a massive role in this, rather than advertising in the local newspaper or sticking notices in the local Post Office.

"So we are seeing a massive growth in the amount of email enquiries we get from tenants, as opposed to people calling. The number of calls we get have remained pretty static but email enquiries have been going up exponentially. So the rental market is moving more and more online rather than offline," said Mr Davis.

Landlords should make sure that they are offering a room which is furnished, including a bed and at least a wardrobe. Gas appliances should also be checked by a professional who is registered with the Gas Safe Register. While it is not a legal requirement, it is also beneficial to have electrical appliances given the once over by an expert.

Furthermore, smoke alarms should be fitted in the property to ensure that the safety of everyone inside the home is protected.