When we value your rental property we aim to provide a realistic price based on our extensive local knowledge and understanding of the rental market. We look at what sets your property apart and match it to the right tenants.
When it comes to letting your property, we understand that you want reassurance that your investment
is in safe hands. We offer a complete cost-effective property management service for landlords,
and as specialists we will manage your property effectively and efficiently, ensuring tenancies run
smoothly and comply with the various landlord/tenants laws at all times.
Getting the property ready
Now that you have decided to rent out your property, you’ll want to maximise the letting poten- tial by making sure you address the condition of the property, the quality of the presentation and attention to detail. The most important thing to remember is that you are not going to be the one living in the property, so your personal taste should take second place to what the market demands. Better properties attract better tenants and yield the highest rents.
Exterior
The first thing that a potential tenant sees is the front of the property, so the exterior should be in good decorative order. Any pathways and driveways should be cleared of weeds and should be tidy, presentable and rubbish free.
Trim hedges, mow the lawn, repair any cracks, holes or blemishes or walls, give the windows a lick of paint and make sure the house number is clearly visible.
If you are letting a garage with the property, this should also be cleared and made ready for use. The garden should also be tidy and presented in an attractive manner, dig up any dead or un-
sightly plants and if possible add some new ones.
Utility Services
Ensure that all available utilities are connected to the property, including telephone line, gas, water and electricity. Where provided, check any LPG/OIL tanks are in working condition and full and that any septic tanks attached to the property are emptied.
Furnishings, Carpets, Curtains & General Interior
Your property can be let fully furnished, part furnished or non-furnished, this will be entirely up to you. We can advise you at the time on whether to furnish or not, and to what level.You’ll find that most tenants prefer plain, neutral colours for decoration and you will also need to take in to consideration wear and tear, especially on carpets.
Carpets should be of good quality, practical and hard wearing. It may also be appropriate to
fit wooden floors in some of the rooms. Whatever you decide, it should be good enough to last. Bathrooms should have a good quality shower, and Kitchens ideally should be well equipped and functional. Again, good quality is important in these areas.
ALL electrical, plumbing, waste, central heating and hot water systems MUST be safe, sound and in good working order. Any instruction/operating manuals for any appliances and electrical equipment should be left in the property. Details of any maintenance contracts should also be supplied. Before the commencement of a tenancy the whole property should be made clean throughout.
Do you have a mortgage on the property?
If you have a mortgage on the property that you intend to let then you will need written permission from your mortgage lender. Depending on who your lender is will determine whether they want to include extra clauses within the tenancy agreement.
Is your property held on a Lease?
If you are the leaseholder of the property then you will need to check the terms of the lease and prior to letting obtain any necessary permissions.
Council Tax & Utility Services
Arranging for transfer of the council tax and utility services in to the correct tenant name is part of our services. We can assist in taking meter readings for each of the services connected to the property.
Insurance
You should advise the insurance company that you are letting out the property and you should make sure that you have adequate insurance cover for buildings, content and public liability in place. Failure to notify your insurer may invalidate your policies. If you need further advice on Landlords Legal Protection, Rent Guarantee
Cover or Contents and Building Insurance, please feel free to ask.
The Cost of Letting Your Property
While your thoughts maybe leaning towards how much you can get by letting your property, you must consider and budget for any costs that could arise, for example:
• Monthly mortgage payments due on the property
• Expenses for bringing the property up to the required standards, this includes cosmetic improvements and safety requirements.
• Letting agent and management fees
• Insurance fees
• Contingency budget for ad hoc maintenance and repairs.
Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)
As a landlord of a property equipped with gas appliances you need to understand and com- ply with the law relating to gas safety. Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 all gas appliances and flues in rented accommodation must be checked for safety within
12 months of being installed, and thereafter at least every 12 months by a competent engineer who is on the Gas Safe Register. All gas appliances and associated pipe work and flues should be maintained to ensure they are safe to use and prevent risk of injury to any person. Provide the tenant with a copy of the safety certificate before their tenancy commences or within 28 days
of the checks being done.
Electrical Inspection Condition Reports (EICR)
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 1 June 2020 and apply to all tenancies created on or after that date in England
from 1 July 2020. These new regulations require landlords to have the electrical installations
in their properties inspected at least every 5 years and tested by a person who is qualified and competent. Landlords will also have to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their ten- ants as well as to the local authority if requested. Private landlords must ensure every electrical installation in their residential premises is inspected and tested at intervals of no more than 5 years by a qualified and competent person. The regulations apply in England to all new specified tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all existing specified tenancies from 1 April 2021. ‘New specified tenancies’ is any tenancy created on or after 1 June 2020.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)
The Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Regulations set a minimum energy efficiency level for domestic private rented properties.
Since 1 April 2020, landlords can no longer let or continue to let properties covered by the MEES Regulations if they have an EPC rating below E, unless they have a valid exemption in place.
If you are currently planning to let a property with an EPC rating of F or G, you need to improve the property’s rating to E, or register an exemption, before you enter into a new tenancy.
If you are currently letting a property with an EPC rating of F or G, and you haven’t already taken action, you must improve the property’s rating to E immediately, or register an exemption.
If your property is currently empty, and you are not planning to let it, you don’t need to take any action to improve its rating until you decide to let it again.
The Tenancy Deposit
The Tenants Deposit Scheme (TDS) government legislation came into effect in April 2007. All deposits taken for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy must be protected in a government approved scheme for the security of the landlords and tenants within the legal timeframe.
There are two types of tenancy deposit protection schemes available for landlords and letting agents (insurance-based schemes and custodial schemes). All schemes provide a free dispute resolution service.
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