If you are looking to let your property then we offer a pro-active, professional but friendly service, call us today on 01993 627766. See below for a comprehensive guide to our services and fees.
If you are an experienced landlord you will know that there is a lot more to letting than just finding a tenant. If you just are starting out, it is crucial to get the set up right and we can help you every step of the way.
Jason is managing the lettings side of things along with our complimentary team in Oxford. Jason will come and meet you at your property and talk through your requirements as a landlord. He can discuss a marketing price and suggest anything you can do to help achieve the best return on your property including honest advice on whether any works need doing or not. Legislation associated with letting can seem daunting as this is subject to regular changes so we feel it is important to understand the options and necessities from the start so for this meeting we suggest you allow approximately an hour.
Professional reports need to be carried out, including a gas safety certificate, energy performance certificate (EPC) including the MEES legislation, and others – depending on your property – to cover your duty of care for your tenant and compliance with current laws. We feel full PIR electrical checks are likely to become law soon and strongly recommend having one anyway or you could be liable if there was any damage to person or property in an electrical fire. We can organise experts and tradespeople to carry out these tasks and any specific jobs that need doing. Jason can manage the timing of all this for you so that everything is ready for your tenant to move in on time and reports are created neither too soon, or too late.
With timescales agreed and paperwork signed we can get on with the job of presenting your property to the market. We will provide top quality professional photographs, prepare details and window cards, quickly alert all our applicants who may be interested and get it on the web. We like to present your property in the best way possible whether it is empty or occupied. We are happy to liaise with your current tenants. We will ideally erect a “To Let” board.
We find we are lucky in this area; finding a tenant is not usually difficult; but finding the right one is important! We know different landlords have different priorities and we like to know about them. All our viewings are accompanied. We always meet prospective tenants before putting their offer to you and if there is a choice of tenants, we will give you the facts and share our thoughts so you can make an informed decision.
Your chosen tenants will then pay the application fee and complete referencing and credit checks. We work with our complimentary team in Oxford, Butler Sherborn, who undertake this part of the process for us. We can start arranging any certificates applicable to your property that need to be obtained and look at any other requirements that may need to be fulfilled. This is the time to make decisions on insurance available. Rent excludes the Tenancy Deposit and any other charges or fees which may be payable – upon request further information will be provided by the Agent.
Once references and credit checks have been completed and a moving-in date is agreed, we continue with the preparation and now is the time to be obtaining the necessary reports and organising the cleaning and inventory. A draft Tenancy Agreement will be drawn up and checked by all parties, then signed. The deposit paid is held in the tenancy deposit scheme; a standing order for further rent set up – and your tenant moves in. We will accompany them for a check in where appropriate.
You can take responsibility for this, or we can organise it for you. If you manage the property yourself, the contact with the tenant now passes to you. Alternatively, our managing agent, Butler Sherborn, can deal with everything on your behalf, including regular property inspections and any maintenance or contractual issues.
This is probably not on your mind at this stage, but there are more issues and legal disputes at this stage than any other, usually to do with deposits and the way the property has been looked after. Following the correct set-up procedures above reduces the likelihood of a problem, and if we manage the property for you, negotiating this step is all taken care of for you.
Our services include | Let Only | Rent Collect | Managed |
Pre tenancy | |||
Free market appraisal | √ | √ | √ |
Arranging an EPC* | √ | √ | √ |
Producing full property details including photography and floor plan | √ | √ | √ |
Advertising and marketing the property | √ | √ | √ |
Conducting viewings & negotiating offers and terms | √ | √ | √ |
Obtaining references through a referencing company | √ | √ | √ |
Arranging pre-tenancy maintenance and certificates as required* | √ | √ | √ |
Arrange an inventory and condition report* | Optional | Optional | √ |
Preparation of legal documentation e.g. tenancy agreement | √ | √ | √ |
Registration of deposit and associated administration | √ | √ | √ |
Checkin* | √ | √ | √ |
Post move in Transfer of utility accounts | √ | ||
Rent collection and accounting including account statements | √ | √ | |
Annual tax return statement | √ | √ | |
Chasing rent arrears | √ | √ | |
Payment of invoices from received rent | √ | ||
Compliance with the over seas landlord scheme | √ | √ | |
Regular inspections and reports* | Optional | Optional | √ |
Obtaining quotes for repairs where required | √ | ||
Attending to day-to-day maintenance and tenant enquiries | √ | ||
Advise on refurbishment and substantial repairs* | √ | ||
Inspection of completed works | √ | ||
Preparing and serving notices* | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Tenancy renewals/end of tenancy | |||
Negotiate a renewal agreement between landlord and tenant* | Optional | Optional | √ |
Review rent at renewal point* | Optional | Optional | √ |
Prepare renewal documents* | Optional | Optional | √ |
Comply with the requirements of the tenancy deposit scheme* | √ | √ | √ |
Arrange a checkout* | Optional | Optional | √ |
Transfer utility accounts | √ | ||
Re-market the property* | √ | √ | √ |
Negotiate the return of the deposit | √ | ||
Disperse the deposit with agreement from landlord and tenant | √ | √ | √ |
Confirm deposit return with the tenancy deposit scheme | √ | √ | √ |
Log a dispute with the tenancy deposit scheme for arbitration | √ | √ | √ |
*Fees may apply,please see further details below |