Why choose us?
We understand that letting your property, especially for the first time, can be a worrying experience and with this in mind our most important consideration is providing you the Landlord with the best possible service and the right tenant for your property.
We never forget that the property is your most important asset and we can confidently assure you that by instructing us to act as your Letting and Management Agents your asset will be in professional and caring hands.
The face of the Letting Agent is ever changing. What we offer is compelling...we can market your property and take a much lower fee as traditional letting agents because we do not have the shop front and staff expenses. This in turn means that we can be flexible and able to deal with issues first hand and quickly.
OUR SERVICES
Inventory Only
We can provide an inventory service for all types of properties. Starting from £100.00 (no vat) for one to two bed properties. Increasing rate to correspond with larger properties.
Tenancy Agreements and Deposit Holding
If you are looking to renew a tenancy agreement only with a current tenant we can prepare the new agreement and hold the deposit for you in the MyDeposit scheme with a cost of only £150.00
Unmanaged Service
This is our Letting Only Service, this includes marketing of the property and carrying out viewings. Once a tenant has been referenced both financially and personally, we then prepare the tenancy agreement and the relevant paperwork. Inventories are done by request of the landlord. We will place the deposit in the MyDeposit scheme and do rental collection for the first month only. Managing the tenancy, including the maintenance and rent collection, will then be the responsibility of the Landlord.
Fee is 75% of first month’s rent or a minimum of £200.00 for arranging the tenancy.
Fully Managed
This includes marketing of the property and carrying out viewings. Once a tenant has been referenced both financially and personally, we then prepare the tenancy agreement and all relevant paperwork. Inventories are done by request of the landlord. We will place the deposit in the MyDeposit scheme.
Collecting and processing of rental payments is also an important part of our All-Inclusive Service. Rental balances will be credited automatically to the Landlord’s nominated bank account.
Towards the end of the tenancy, we liaise with the Tenant, with a view to renewing the tenancy agreement, or arranging to check them out and re-advertising the property to let.
This Service is suitable for Landlords who are not residing locally, or would rather not deal with the Tenants directly, preferring all aspects to be handled by an Agent.
We will liaise with tradesman, tenant and Landlord should any problems arise. We will organise the yearly Gas check and six monthly routine inspections as well as the renewal of the EPC and ECIR. We feel these are important to keep the relationship between us and the tenant on a good level. It is sometimes asked for from certain mortgage providers should you have a mortgage.
Fee is 65% of first month’s rent or a minimum of £200.00 for arranging the tenancy and an 8% cost of the ongoing monthly rent. If more properties are added to your portfolio with us charges will be bespoke. Easylet are not registered for VAT.
PREPARING THE PROPERTY
We have found that a good relationship with Tenants is the key to a smooth-running tenancy. As Property Managers this relationship 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. It follows therefore that a well presented and maintained property in a good decorative order will go towards this, whilst also achieving a higher rental figure. Tenants are also more inclined to treat such a property with greater respect.
Furnishings
Your property can be let fully furnished, part furnished or unfurnished. Which of these is appropriate will depend on the type of property and local market conditions. We will be pleased to give you advice on whether to furnish or not and to what level. As a minimum you will need to provide decent quality carpets, curtains and light fittings. Remember that there will be wear and tear on the property and any items provided.
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. However, few Tenants are experienced gardeners, and if you value your garden, or if it is particularly large, you may wish us to arrange visits by our regular gardener.
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.
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 provide information on Landlords Legal Protection, Rent Guarantee Cover and Landlords Contents and Buildings Insurance if required.
Call us now for a more information.
Council Tax and Utility Accounts
The tenant will sign a form to say they understand that they need to set up the utility accounts and inform the council the date of moving in. Meter readings are taken when moving in and out. The landlord can also inform the utility and council of these dates to help the process.
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.
Tenancy Deposit Protection
All deposits taken by landlords and letting agents under Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland must now be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme. To avoid any disputes going to court, each scheme is supported by an alternative dispute resolution service (ADR). Landlords and letting agents can choose between two types of scheme; a single custodial scheme and two insurance-based schemes. We operate the DPS custodial and MyDeposits insured scheme.
What is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy?
Most tenancies will automatically be Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs), provided the rent is under £100,000 a year and the property is let to private individuals. Tenancies are usually granted for an initial fixed term of either 6 months. When the fixed term has expired the tenant can then have a periodic tenancy and the landlord is able to regain possession of the property provided he gives two months written notice to the tenant.
Oversea Landlords
When resident in the UK, it is entirely the Landlords responsibility to inform the Revenue & Customs of rental income received, and to pay any tax due. Where the Landlord is resident outside the UK during a tenancy, he will require an exemption certificate from the Revenue & Customs before he can receive rental balances without deduction of tax. Where we are managing the property we will provide advice and assistance on applying for such exemption.
Is your property a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)?
If your property is on 3 or more levels and let to 5 or more tenants comprising 2 or more households (i.e. not all of the same family) it will be subject to mandatory licensing by your local authority. Whether mandatory licensing as above applies or not, if there are 3 or more tenants not all related in any property, it is still likely to be an HMO, and special Management rules will apply.
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
The HHSRS provides an analysis of how hazardous a property is through assessment of 29 potential hazards found in housing. Landlords have to maintain their properties to provide a safe and healthy environment. The HHSRS is enforced by local authorities.
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005
The DDA 2005 addresses the limitations of current legislation by extending disabled people’s rights in respect of premises that are let or to be let, and commonhold premises. Landlords and managers of let premises and premises that are to let will be required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.
The above is a brief summary of landlords responsibilities and of the laws surrounding tenanted property. We hope that you find it useful. If there are any aspects of which you are unsure, please ask us. We look forward to being of assistance to you in the letting and management of your property.
Letting Requirements
The following requirements are the responsibility of the owner (Landlord). Where we are managing the property they are also our responsibility. Therefore where we are managing we will ensure compliance, any costs of which will be the responsibility of the landlord.
Gas
Annual safety check: Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 all gas appliances and flues in rented accommodation must be checked for safety at least every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. They must be maintained in a safe condition at all times, records kept for at least 2 years, and a copy of the safety certificate given to each new tenant before their tenancy commences.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
EPCs are required for all tenanted property in England & Wales with a minimum rating of E. Landlords offering property for rent are required by law to provide prospective tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate for their property. The certificates must be provided free either when (or before) any written information about the property is provided to prospective tenants or a viewing is conducted. An EPCs is valid for 10 years. We can arrange an EPC inspection for our landlord clients upon request.
Electrical
All tenancies require a ‘Satisfactory’ EICR. For our Managed Landlords we will arrange an EICR for you, or alternatively you can employ your own, preferred, electrician as long as they meet the requirements previously discussed. It is important to make enough time to have the EICR carried out in case there are any Code 1’s or 2’s which require addressing before the tenancy is due to commence.
Fire
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989 & 1993) provide that specified items supplied in the course of letting property must meet minimum fire resistance standards. The regulations apply to all upholstered furniture, 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, and certain other items. Non-compliant items must be removed before a tenancy commences.
Smoke Alarms and CO2 Alarms
All properties built since June 1992 must have been fitted with mains powered smoke detector alarms from new. Although there is no legislation requiring smoke alarms to be fitted in other ordinary tenanted properties (except HMOs), it is generally considered that the common law "duty of care" means that Landlords and their Agents could be liable should a fire cause injury or damage in a tenanted property where smoke alarms are not fitted. We therefore strongly recommend that the Landlord fit at least one alarm on each floor (in the hall and landing areas). From the 1st October 2015 regulations require smoke alarms to be installed in rented residential accommodation and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with a solid fuel appliance. Changes are also made to the licence requirements in relation to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), such as shared houses and bedsits which require a licence and also in relation to properties which are subject to selective licensing. The Regulations apply both to houses and flats. Failure to comply can lead to a civil penalty being imposed of up to £5,000.
From 1 October 2022 the range of fuel types will include gas and oil. Typically this will mean that any room housing a combustion boiler (gas or oil), gas fires, oil fired range cookers etc. will require a CO alarm. Gas hobs and cookers are excluded but we recommend it is a safe thing to do by having a CO alarm with these type of appliances.
