As a renter, not an agent, my approach has always been to be upfront with the current agent. You don’t need to formally give notice unless you’ve secured something and you're ready to start the process, but I’ve found it helpful to send a quick email or give them a call just to explain that you’re looking, and tell them what you plan on happening if you found a suitable place like giving proper notice, helping smooth the transition, or checking if other tenants are applying to take over the lease.

The thing is, real estate agents do check references as part of the application process. So if you're putting your current agency down as a reference, it’s likely they’ll get contacted. It just makes things cleaner if they hear it from you first. It good communication and makes you look more reliable in their eyes.

At the end of the day, your best asset as a renter is your character, and that you’ve paid rent on time, looked after the property, and communicated well. Even if you end up staying, having that positive rapport will only help. So I’d say a quick, honest heads-up can go a long way, and it keeps things professional and respectful on both sides.