- Our aim is to let your property at the best possible price in the shortest possible time.
- We have no hidden charges and our shown prices include VAT to avoid any unpleasant surprises
- We offer flexible services catered around your requirements such as;
- Tenant Find Only
- Rent Collect
- Fully Managed Service
- First impressions count and are critical to a successful let – we will assist you with the presentation of your property
- We work with many relocation agents across the UK and abroad
- Finding your perfect tenant requires maximum exposure across a wide range of media and we will market your property on our website, RightMove, Zoopla, Onthemarket.com, primelocation, and other media/social media as well as in our shop window on the busy Oxford Street, Southampton
- We are a member of Client Money Protection (CMP) and offer full client money protection
- We are registered with Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS),
- We have a wealth of lettings experience and an in-depth understanding of the ever-changing rules, law and regulations
- Our up-to-date database ensures we are able to match qualified tenants with suitable properties quickly
- We will assist you with the pre-tenancy preparations to ensure a happy tenancy from the start, and to save costs
- Our systems help to ensure timely rent collection and rent reviews
- We will provide you with a Monthly statement of account
- We provide free void property management (for managed properties)
- We undertake six monthly interim property inspections
With the ever-increasing pressure of ensuring that your property complies with current legislation you can rest assured that your property will be in safe hands.
Pre-Tenancy Information & Requirements;
Ownership
Where the Property is jointly owned, you must ensure that all of the owners (as stated on the title deeds of the Property) are stated on the Tenancy Agreement.
Mortgage Consent
Where the Property is subject to a mortgage you must obtain written consent from your mortgagee(s) prior to entering into a tenancy agreement. The tenant will need to be notified in writing of any conditions of letting obligatory by the mortgagee prior to the commencement of any tenancy.
Money Laundering Regulations (AML) 2007
AML is a legal requirement for all estate agents, with HMRC targeting any criminal activity in the property sector. Every time you market a property with an estate agent you’ll need to provide a valid photo ID and a recent utility bill (less than 3 month’s old).
We will perform the above same checks on your prospective tenants.
Tenant Check-in
This makes both the move-in and move-out process run smoothly and minimises disagreements and delays when claiming for cleaning or damages at the end of a tenancy.
We advise a professional clean before the move-in date and an independent inventory at check-in to record the exact condition of all spaces inside and outside the property
Legislation you should be aware of;
We will guide you through the complicated lettings process. In the meantime, outlined below are some of the main requirements that Landlords need to comply with.
Right to Rent
It is a legal requirement to thoroughly check a tenant’s right to rent a property in the UK.
All prospective tenants over 18 years of age must be checked.
We undertake full tenant referencing that also confirms the tenant’s eligibility to rent a property in the UK and further provides Tenants credit score, etc.
The Gas Safety (Installation and use) Regulations 1998
All gas appliances and installation pipe work in the property must adhere with these regulations including an annual safety inspection by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. A successful safety inspection must be completed prior to any tenancy commencing and a copy of the report must be provided to the Tenant. You must ensure that there is a valid Gas Safety Record during the entire time there is a tenant in occupation. Failure to comply with these regulations is a criminal offence.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Under the Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, when the premises are occupied under a tenancy they must be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm fitted in any room which is used wholly or partly as living accommodation and contains a solid fuel burning combustion appliance. The landlord must ensure that the alarm is in proper working order on the day a new tenancy begins and remains in proper working order.
Smoke Detectors Act 1991
Under the Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, all tenanted premises must be equipped with a smoke alarm fitted on each storey of the property where there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation. The landlord must ensure such alarms are in proper working order on the day the tenancy begins and remains in proper working order.
The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates & Inspections) Regulations 2007
An EPC is a compulsory review of how energy efficient a property is. It is a legal requirement for landlords to have a valid EPC in place with a minimum band E rating before the property can be advertised for let.
EICR reports are valid for 5 years. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in financial penalties of up to £30,000 by the local authority.
Servicing and Maintenance of Fittings and Equipment
All equipment provided within the Property must be fully operational and safe to use throughout the tenancy term and must be regularly serviced in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines. Instruction manuals should be provided to the tenant prior to the commencement of any tenancy.
Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 section 11 provides that Landlords are classed as ‘supplier’ of goods in properties they let for gain which is also covered under Consumer Rights Act.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994
The Housing Act 2004 requires that in all properties where three or more unrelated occupants occupy a Property (making it an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation) an electrical safety test must be carried out and a certificate obtained. It is the Landlord’s responsibility to ensure all electrical installations and appliances are maintained and in good working order. Any unsafe items should be removed from the property prior to the commencement of any tenancy.
Fire safety and furniture regulations -The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988
Any furniture and furnishings supplied in a property that is rented out must be fire resistant and so that they won’t produce fume-filled smoke if there is a fire in the property.
Blinds
In 2014 new regulations came into force regarding Child Safety and window blinds and curtain cords – EN13120. It is mandatory to comply with the new regulations and there is no exception whether there are children present or not. It is the Landlord’s responsibility to ensure that any blinds in the property comply with these regulations.
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) – Housing Act 2004 A mandatory licence is required for any property comprising three or more occupants who do not belong to one household. It is the Landlord’s responsibility to obtain and pay for such a license before you commit to a Tenancy which is defined as an HMO. Some local authorities enforce discretionary licensing which affects properties with three or more occupants from two or more households.
THE TENANT FEE ACT 2019 COMMENCING 1ST JUNE 2019
Prevents landlords and their agents from requiring tenants to make any payment as a condition of granting, renewing or continuing a tenancy apart from:
Permitted payments being;
- Rent
- A capped refundable Tenancy Deposit
- A capped refundable Holding Deposit
- Payments in the event of a default
- Payment on variation, assignment or novation of a tenancy
- Payment on termination (surrender) of a tenancy
- Payments in respect of Council Tax
- Payments for utilities (electricity, gas or other fuel, water or sewage)
- Payments for a television licence
- Communication services (telephone other than a mobile telephone; the internet; cable television, satellite television)
- Green Deal charge
NB: The Secretary of State can amend the list of Permitted Payments but cannot remove rent from the categories of payment which are permitted.
Prohibited Payments;
All charges not specifically listed as a Permitted Payment will be prohibited under the tenant fees ban. Examples include:
- Application fees
- Tenancy set up costs
- Referencing of tenants
- Contract negotiation
- Inventory