Renting privately - pros and cons

[Rojak]

We are moving abroad with DH's job and my SIL's sister has expressed an interest in renting our house while we are away.

Does anyone have experience of letting privately? What are the pros / cons?

I'd like to get a contract drawn up just to protect ourselves and tenant too and have seen a number of companies offering these contracts online - has anyone used these or would be able to recommend a company they used for contracts?

Thanks.

You can buy packs from wh smiths with tenancy agreements. Just make sue you have land lords insurance.

Thanks. Will go and check WH Smith's out tomorrow.

We let our last house for a short while, to the people who were to buy it from us.

we got a Solicitor to draw up the apperwork just for the sake of clarity, and didn't regret it as DH popped round to ask them about the sale one day and found our kitchen in the back garden. The solicitor drew up apperwork for an eviction whch we kept quiet in case their mortgage fell through (theor previous one had). fortuncately it didn't, but it brough home to me just how invaluable decent legal back up could be.

have been a landlord and a tenat, and have ahd both good and bad landlords. the best advice is to remember it's your house, but it's also their home.

Am shopping around for landlord's insurance now. Those of you who have one, would you recommend the firm you use?

I am considering Norwich Union (as we have our regular home and contents insurance with them)

Thanks