A lot of agency work may be moving online but technology is actually low down the list of top priorities for landlords when choosing a lettings agent.

A survey by Hunters Estates Agents of 179 of its landlord clients found 70% cited ensuring potential tenants have passed reference checks as a top priority, while just 20% viewed the type of portal as a big issue and only 27% saw the website as the main consideration.

The survey asked respondents to rank certain services by priority. Interestingly, the rental value only just makes the top four main priorities. Speed of the let was the second most popular main priority while just over half cited trained staff or the amount of rent as of main importance.

Carrie Alliston, head of lettings at Hunters, said: “It is undeniable that the UK has a growing market for lettings, with more people renting than ever before, whether this is because they are struggling to get on to the housing ladder or enjoy the flexibility renting gives them. It is therefore highly important to ensure that although the market is widening, agents are still doing the necessary procedures to protect both landlords and tenants.

“While it is important to ensure our investors are achieving a good return on their properties, it is reassuring to see that despite rental price increases across the country; our landlords have not cited marketing their properties at the most expensive price possible as a priority for them.

“This indicates that the increase in rental prices across England is due to wider market factors, such as house price increases or the additional stamp duty charges introduced in April, rather than landlord greed.”