Landlords: Services and Fees

We generally offer two types of service, Property Letting and Property Letting and Management.

Property Letting

This package is for the Landlord wishing to retain overall management of the property once the complexities of setting up the Tenancy have been completed. We will:

  • Advertise and circulate property details to prospective tenants including leading businesses, institutions and other letting agencies with whom we have a good working relationship. We also maintain a large register of applicants.
  • Accompany all viewings at a time convenient to the current occupier of the property.
  • Undertake careful interviewing of prospective tenants. Due to the daily demand we have for quality accommodation, we are able to be very selective in our choice of tenants. We do our utmost to research and assess the prospective tenant's background to judge their suitability for a particular property by taking up references and credit checks.
  • Negotiate all terms and conditions of the proposed tenancy, prepare and issue the appropriate Tenancy Agreement and legal Notices.
  • Collect the first month's rent in advance and a deposit (equivalent to one months rent plus £100). The rent will be paid (less expenses) into your UK bank account. Subject to your instructions we will either submit the deposit to you, for registration with a Deposit Scheme, or we will hold the deposit in our scheme until the final Inventory check whereby any deductions are agreed with the tenant.
  • Set up Standing Orders for future rental payments.
  • Issue and check through the Inventory (if applicable), and obtain the Tenant's signature accordingly.
  • Ensure the Tenant's read the gas and electricity meters and notify the suppliers accordingly (Notification of British Telecom and Cable remains the responsibility of the Line User).
  • Advise the Council Tax officer and water authorities of the new tenants and the tenancy commencement date.

The fee for this service is 45% of one month's rent plus VAT.

Property Letting and Management

This is a popular service as it releases the Landlord from the day-to-day running of their home or investment property. Additionally, many Building Societies and Banks require that a professional Agent manage the property.
This includes all items listed under Property Letting. In addition we will do the following:

  • Arrange for the collection of rent. Rents are then transferred monthly to the Landlord's account. A monthly property statement is issued to the Landlord including any expenses.
  • Hold the tenant's deposit against damage and dilapidation in our client account.
  • Arrange for Electrical Safety Testing, Gas Safety Testing, smoke alarm checks and for the Furniture (if applicable) to be safety tested and for the issue of the Compliance Certificate to be held on file.
  • Undertake property inspections every three months to ensure the property is being maintained to the correct standard. Should a problem arise we will endeavour to inform you or arrange for repairs to be carried out. (It must be understood that routine inspections can only provide a superficial examination and are not intended to be a structural survey or inventory check).
    Please note that our responsibility to manage and inspect property exists only from the date a Letting commences, not from the date of instruction to seek a tenant, until vacation of the premises by the tenant and at no other times unless otherwise agreed.
  • Deal with queries in respect of the property and arrange for maintenance problems to be resolved. We use local tradesmen known to us unless the Landlord specifies a particular individual/firm that they wish to be instructed.
  • Should the property require a licence we will make the application to the council on your behalf and see the process through to completion.
  • Make payments for other items relating to the property as requested by the Landlord and written in the Second Schedule of the Management Agreement. The Agent will normally pay these amounts from rental monies collected.
  • Contact both the current tenants and the Landlord near the fourth month of the tenancy to determine whether they wish to continue renting/letting beyond the initial term. We can then arrange for the lease to be renewed. If a current tenant does not wish to stay beyond the initial term, then we will arrange for the re-marketing to take place.
  • On termination of the tenancy, we will carry out a full inventory check and prepare a schedule of dilapidation. We will negotiate and agree dilapidation on your behalf and make the appropriate deductions from the tenant's deposit, ensuring that the property is suitable for re-letting or Landlord's reoccupation.
  • If necessary, arrange for cleaning and for the replacement of missing items.
  • On managed properties, any arrears or breaches of covenant are immediately reported to the Landlord by the Agent. Should it be deemed necessary to take legal action the Landlord would be responsible for instructing their own solicitor and for their fees and charges incurred thereof.
  • If we are managing the property, we will require a full set of keys to retain in addition to the tenant's keys. We will also require a copy of the house instructions.

The fee for this service is 8% plus VAT of the monthly rental payments collected for UK landlords or 10% for overseas Landlords. The initial set up fee for new tenancies is 35% of one month's rent plus VAT.