IS YOUR PROPERTY TENANT READY?

Robert Leech Icon

The Keys To Success

The three keys to success when it comes to letting your property

Market Appraisal
A professional and informed appraisal aimed at providing you with the opportunity to discuss: the value of your property, market conditions, services we offer as well as to address any compliance/legislation questions you may have.

Tenancy Agreement
We draw up a bespoke tenancy agreement that covers not only the headline clauses but also incorporates special terms. This allows a clear, fair overview of what is expected of both the tenant and landlord.

Service
By offering three different levels of service we are able to tailor the level of service we offer to your needs and requirements. From the outset we shall provide you with a clear overview of what you should expect from the service level you have chosen.

Clean
The way in which the property is presented at the outset of the tenancy will be reflected in the way in which the property is returned. For this reason, we recommend a thorough clean of the property and neutral decoration throughout.

Handover
Prior to the commencement of the tenancy we collect additional information from you which your tenant may find handy. This includes information on where the water stopcock is, utility providers and information on our out of hours service*.

Inventory & Check In
A professional inventory/schedule of conditions and check in are highly recommended at the beginning of each tenancy to provide you with the peace of mind that a fair and documented comparison can be made at the end of a tenancy.

Landlord feedback
From the initial market appraisal through to the let of your property we will ensure that you receive feedback throughout the process to ensure that we secure a let for you as seamlessly as possible.

Handover
Prior to the commencement of the tenancy we collect additional information from you which your tenant may find handy. This includes information on where the water stopcock is, utility providers and information on our out of hours service*.

Reviews
These are carried out prior to the end of a tenancy to discuss whether or not you and your tenant wish to renew the tenancy and to discuss rental increases.

Would You Like a Valuation?

The Red Tape & The Essentials

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 came into force on 1 October 2022. From this date, all relevant landlords must:

1. Ensure at least one smoke alarm is equipped on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation. This has been a legal requirement in the private rented sector since 2015.

2. Ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).

3. Ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once informed and found that they are faulty.

The requirements are enforced by local authorities who can impose a fine of up to £5,000 where a landlord fails to comply with a remedial notice.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 specifies that all tenanted properties have a valid gas safety certificate-all gas appliances and flues need to undergo an annual gas safety check – and always by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Following the annual gas safety check and receipt of your Landlord Gas Safety Record, you’ll need to provide a record of this check to your tenants.
From 1st June 2020, private landlords in England have been required to have the electrical installation in their rental properties checked by a qualified electrician to ensure that they are safe. Electrical installations must be inspected and tested prior to the start of a new tenancy and on any existing tenancies by 1st April 2021. These checks must then be carried out on a five-yearly basis. A copy of the most recent electrical safety condition report (EICR) must be provided to both new and retained tenants.
Since October 2008, rental properties in England and Wales have required an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An Energy Performance Certificate gives detailed information your property’s energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions. On April 1st 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) came into force. This required all rental properties of new tenancies and renewals to have a minimum EPC rating of ‘E’ or above. If your property doesn’t have a valid EPC rating of ‘E’ or above by this date, it cannot be legally let.
You must check that a tenant can legally rent your residential property in England. At Robert Leech these checks are completed by the referencing agency we use. Before the start of a new tenancy, you must check all tenants aged 18 and over, even if: they’re not named on the tenancy agreement. There are four steps involved-1.Ask them for original documents that prove they can live in the UK. 2. Check their documents to see if they have the right to rent your property. 3.Check that each tenant’s documents are genuine and belong to them, with the tenant present. 4. Make and keep copies of the documents and record the date you made the check.