Description of Range of Services for Landlords

Management Service

• Marketing & advertising the property
• Accompanied viewings
• Tenant selection and vetting procedure
• Preparation of tenancy agreement
• Inventory
• Arrange standing order payments
• Hold tenants deposit covered by The Dispute Service
• Collect monthly rental payments from tenants
• Forward rental payments promptly to landlords
• Chase and pursue late payments
• Regular inspections of the property
• Assist with minor insurance claims
• Arrange routine repairs & maintenance
• Arrange annual safety checks
• Complete final inspection of the property
• Deal with dilapidations
• Release deposits
• Notify utilities at beginning and end of tenancy
• Preparation & serving appropriate notices
• Copy rental statements

Optional extras (at additional cost)

• Preparation of inventory
• Rental protection cover
• Buildings & contents cover

Schedule of Fees

Management Service

SET UP FEES                                £150 + VAT at the current rate

Management Fees                                    8% of monthly rent

Rent guarantee                                         Fees on Application

Detailed inventory if - required              £100 Minimum, includes full written report and schedule of condition of property and its contents.

Property Check List

Property Exterior    

• All windows intact and in safe working order
• All doors intact and in safe working order
• Do all locks work properly
• Are there keys to all doors, windows etc
• Any lost or broken roof tiles
• Are the facias and guttering in good condition
• All drains should be clear and working properly
• Concrete and paves areas level & safe
• Steps safe & well maintained
• Fences and walls safe & well maintained
• Gardens well maintained
• All Masonry safe & well maintained
• All exterior décor to an acceptable standard

                                                                            Property Interior 

• All carpets properly fitted, clean and in good condition
• All curtains and fittings secure, clean and in good condition
• Has the property been decorated to an acceptable standard
• Is the heating system fully operational and maintained
• Are stairs and rails secure and safe
• Are all cupboards and worktops secure & safe
• Are kitchen appliances safe and in good order
• Is sanitary ware in a good state of repair
• Are seals in the bath / shower/ sink in good repair
• Do all toilets flush and work properly
• Check that any other items of furniture being providing are suitable and in good condition. 

NEW ELECTRICAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Legal responsibilities for landlords:

The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting have drawn the attention of landlords and letting agents to Part P of the building regulations, and how impending changes will affect them and their legal responsibility for electrical safety.

In January 2005 electrical installation work in dwellings (houses and flats), whether professional or DIY, will become subject to the new Building Regulation - 'Part P'. This will be enforced by Local Authorities. Failure to comply will be a criminal offence.

The requirement is that:

"Fixed electrical installations in dwellings shall be suitably designed, installed, inspected and tested so as to provide reasonable protection against their being the source of a fire or a cause of injury to persons".

According to Government statistics fixed electrical installations in homes in England and Wales cause around 5 fatalities and over 500 non-fatal injuries every year. 12,500 fires in homes across the country are reported as having an electrical source of ignition causing about 25 deaths and 590 non-fatal injuries each year. Rented properties tend to endure more wear and tear than most privately owned homes which can mean an increased risk.

The new legislation is designed to protect consumers from cowboy contractors by requiring electrical work in homes in England and Wales to comply with British Standard safety requirements which have previously not been mandatory.

In a nutshell, it will become a legal requirement for landlords to be able to prove that all fixed electrical installations and alteration work has been carried out and certified by a competent electrician. (A fixed installation comprises the wiring and appliances that are fixed to the building fabric such as sockets, switches, consumer units and ceiling fittings.)

This is in addition to existing legislation, and also the common law duty of care, which require that electrical appliances in tenanted property are safe.

The only way to ensure that all electrical installations and equipment are safe is to arrange an inspection by a qualified electrician, and to have a safety certificate issued.

 ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE

From the 1st October 2008 all rental property with a new tenacny in England and Wales will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Having an EPC will really help your proprties stand out from the crowd as more and more tenants are becoming environmentally conscious with their property choices.

An EPC is a review of the energy efficiency and environmental impact of your property and will be rated on a scale from A-G, A being the most efficient. It covers the running costs for the heating, hot water, lighting and will also suggest energy saving improvements for the property.