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Private or not you'd be wise to remove all of the furniture and white goods, including, ridiculously, the bulbs. To avoid the scenario you describe.
Also there are property maintenance companies who can do more major fixes for you without you having to actually be there. The problem with agents is when things go wrong they will be spending your money and guess what they give no fucks about your money.
i have a mate that is looking for a crash pad in town. we could rent it to him and keep a room for us, but them we are stumping up the remainder to pay the rent at the new place.
the new place is in wiltshire. a 3 hour drive to change a lightbulb miight not work with a young family.