If you currently own or intend to purchase
residential property for rental in Stevenage and the Surrounding areas,
you should consider engaging our property management service. You'll
find it both professional and cost-effective. As we are specialists, we
know how to manage property for optimum performance, whilst ensuring
smooth running tenancies, and compliance with the various
landlord/tenant laws. Maximise the return on your investment - contact us now.
Our Services include:
Visiting you at your property, and providing a rental
valuation and any other advice which you may require about letting your
property.
Advising you on compliance with the various safety regulations.
Locating suitable tenants. Your property will be
advertised if necessary, however we have excellent contacts with
various company and other establishment personnel departments, and
furthermore usually have tenants waiting.
Accompanying tenant applicants to view the property.
Obtaining and evaluating references and credit checks.
Preparing a suitable tenancy agreement and arranging signature by the tenant.
Collecting and holding as stakeholders a deposit (bond) from the tenant.
Preparing an inventory and schedule of condition.
Checking the tenant into the property and agreeing the inventory.
Supervising the transfer of gas, electricity and council tax accounts into the tenant's name.
Receiving rental payments monthly in advance, and paying
you promptly, together with a detailed statement from our computerised
management systems.
If required paying regular outgoings for you from rental payments.
Inspecting the property periodically, and reporting any problems to you.
Arranging any necessary repairs or maintenance, first liaising with you in the case of larger works.
Keeping in touch with the tenant on a routine basis, and arranging renewals of the agreement as necessary.
Checking tenants out as required, reletting and
continuing the process with the minimum of vacant periods to ensure
that you receive the optimum return from your property.
We maintain a flexible attitude, and are generally
able to adapt our service to meet our client's individual circumstances
and needs, for example by providing a part only service, or
alternatively by taking on additional tasks and duties.
Our Fees
Our initial letting and advertising charge is FREE, Our ongoing management commission is as low as 10% of monthly rental payments.
There is also NO VAT to pay giving you even greater RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT.
Nothing to pay until the NEW tenant moves in and starts paying rent.
Guide for Landlords
Before a property can be let, there are several
matters which the owner will need to deal with to ensure that the
tenancy runs smoothly, and also that he/she complies with the law. For
brief details of a subject click on a blue link below, or scroll down
the page. If you require further advice or assistance with any matter,
please do not hesitate to contact us:
Mortgage
If your property is mortgaged, you should obtain your mortgagee's
written consent to the letting. They may require additional clauses in
the tenancy agreement of which you must inform us.
Leaseholds
If you are a leaseholder, you should check the terms of your lease, and
obtain the necessary written consent before letting. Sub-letting
If you are a tenant yourself, you will require your landlord's consent.
Insurance
You should ensure that you are suitably covered for letting under both
your buildings and contents insurance. Failure to inform your insurers
may invalidate your policies. We can advise on Landlord's Legal
Protection, and Landlord's Contents insurance if required.
We are referers for Rentguard insurance
To Get A Quote Click Here
Special quotes available for portfolios, please call us on 01438 364581 for details
Bills and regular outgoings
We recommend that you arrange for regular outgoings e.g. mortgage,
service charges, maintenance contracts etc. to be paid by standing
order or direct debit. However, where we are Managing the property, by
prior written agreement we may make payment of certain bills on your
behalf, provided such bills are received in your name at our office,
and that sufficient funds are held to your credit.
Council tax
Council tax is the responsibility of the occupier. You should inform
your local collection office that you are leaving the property. During
vacant periods the charge reverts to the owner. When unoccupied but
furnished, the charge is 50% of the normal rate. When unoccupied and
'substantially' unfurnished, there is no charge for the first six
months, and thereafter a charge of 50% of the normal rate.
The inventory
It is most important that an inventory of contents and schedule of
condition be prepared, in order to avoid misunderstanding or dispute at
the end of a tenancy. Without such safeguards, it will be impossible
for the landlord to prove any loss, damage, or significant
deterioration of the property or contents. In order to provide a
complete service to the landlord, we will if requested arrange for a
member of staff to prepare an inventory and schedule of condition, at a
cost to be quoted.
Income tax
When the landlord is resident in the UK, it is entirely his
responsibility to inform the Inland Revenue of rental income received,
and to pay any tax due. However, where the landlord is resident outside
the UK during a tenancy, under new rules effective from 6 April 1996,
unless an exemption certificate is held, we as landlord's agents are
obliged to retain and forward to the Inland Revenue on a quarterly
basis, an amount equal to the basic rate of income tax from rental
received, less certain expenses. An application form for exemption from
such deductions is available from this Agency, and further information
may be obtained from the Inland Revenue.
The following safety requirements are the responsibility of the owner
(the landlord), and where we are to manage the property, they are also
ours as agents. Therefore to protect all interests we ensure full
compliance with the appropriate regulations, at the owner's expense.
Gas Appliances & Equipment
Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 (amended
1996) and some other regulations, all gas appliances in tenanted
premises must be checked for safety at intervals of not more than 12
months, by a CORGI registered gas engineer, and a safety certificate
issued. Records must be kept of the dates of inspections, of defects
identified, and of any remedial action taken.
Electrical Appliances & Equipment
Under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, the Plugs
& Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and some other
regulations, electrical installations and equipment in tenanted
premises must be safe. Although (unlike gas) no safety certificate is
legally required, and therefore it may be adequate to perform a visual
check of electrical equipment, fittings and leads, it is recommended
that a qualified electrician be engaged for this purpose.
Furniture & Furnishings
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended
1989, 1993 & 1996) provide that specified items supplied in the
course of letting property must meet minimum fire resistant standards.
The regulations apply to all upholstered furniture, and beds,
headboards and mattresses, sofa-beds, futons and other convertibles,
nursery furniture, garden furniture suitable for use in a dwelling,
scatter cushions, pillows, and non-original covers for furniture. They
do not apply to antique furniture or furniture made before 1950, bed
clothes including duvets, loose covers for mattresses, pillowcases,
curtains, carpets or sleeping bags. Therefore all relevant items as
above must be checked for compliance, and non-compliant items removed
from the premises. In practice, most (but not all) items which comply
must have a suitable permanent label attached. Items purchased since
1.3.90 from a reputable supplier are also likely to comply.
General Product Safety
The General Product Safety Regulations 1994 specify that any product
supplied in the course of a commercial activity must be safe. In the
case of letting, this would include both the structure of the building
and its contents. Recommended action is to check for obvious danger
signs - leaning walls, broken glass, sharp edges etc., and also to
leave operating manuals or other written instructions about high risk
items, such as hot surfaces, electric lawnmowers, etc. for the tenant.
We have found from experience that a good relationship with tenants is
the key to a smooth-running tenancy. As Property Managers the
relationship part is our job, but it is important that the tenants
should feel comfortable in their temporary home, and that they are
receiving value for their money. This is your job. Our policy of
offering a service of quality and care therefore extends to our tenant
applicants too, and we are pleased to recommend properties to rent
which conform to certain minimum standards. Quality properties attract
quality tenants.
General condition
Electrical, gas, plumbing, waste, central heating and hot water systems
must be safe, sound and in good working order. Repairs and maintenance
are at the landlord's expense unless misuse can be established.
Appliances
Similarly, appliances such as washing machine, fridge freezer, cooker,
dishwasher etc. should be in usable condition. Repairs and maintenance
are at the landlord's expense unless misuse can be established.
Decorations
Interior decorations should be in good condition, and preferably plain, light and neutral.
Furnishings
It is recommended that you leave only minimum furnishings, and these
should be of reasonable quality. It is preferable that items to be left
are in the property during viewings. If you are letting unfurnished, we
recommend that the property contains carpets, curtains, and a cooker.
Personal items, ornaments etc
Personal possessions, ornaments, pictures, books etc. should be removed
from the premises, especially those of real or sentimental value. Some
items may be boxed, sealed and stored in the loft at the owner's risk.
All cupboards and shelf space should be left clear for the tenant's own
use.
Gardens
Gardens should be left neat, tidy and rubbish-free, with any lawns cut.
Tenants are required to maintain the gardens to a reasonable standard,
provided they are left the necessary tools. However, few tenants are
experienced gardeners, and if you value your garden, or if it is
particularly large, you may wish us to arrange maintenance visits by
our regular gardener.
Cleaning
At the commencement of a tenancy the property must be in a thoroughly
clean condition, and at the end of each tenancy it is the tenant's
responsibility to leave the property in similar condition. Where they
fail to do so, cleaning should be arranged at their expense.
Mail forwarding
We recommend that you make use of the Post Office redirection service.
Application forms are available at their counters, and the cost is
minimal. It is not the tenant's responsibility to forward mail.
Information for the tenant
It is helpful if you leave information for the tenant on operating the
central heating and hot water system, washing machine and alarm system,
and the day refuse is collected etc.
Keys
You should provide one set of keys for each tenant. Where we are
Managing we will arrange to have duplicates cut as required.
