Can a property be let out to a new tennant before it even gets publicly marketed? I'm just wondering why there are an absence of properties to rent online, in a certain area....

[TodayToday]

Could it be that the letting agents are contacting prospective tenants and managing to let it before they even have to market it?

Why not? That would be the letting agent earning their money. My tenants moved out, and my letting agent had tenants lined up to view before it even went back on her website. I like to think that my agent earns her money.

As far as I'm aware there is no legal obligation to market a property. If they can get someone to rent it sooner, it is better for everyone concerned.

Yes

We have a flat that we have let for the last 14 years. Usually what happens is that when tenants move out they have friends who take it over. Except for the current tenant who has been there for about 6 years, she didn't know the previous tenants and come through the agency.

Thank you. I wasn't being critical of the practice at all. Just trying to figure out why I don't see many properties online in a certain, desirable area. It's been too soon for Letting Agents to take my details but I'll be contacting them this week and now at least have some hope that they might have some properties in the right area under their management.