Landlords Guide

Our residential Lettings and Management Department, headed up by Richard Heath has earned a well deserved reputation for providing a thorough, reliable and professional service. Our promotion of properties ‘To Let’ is unrivalled and covers the whole of our network of offices.

As a company licenced by the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) our highly dedicated and qualified staff are passionate about letting property and will provide only the very best in support and advice throughout the process so you can be assured that your valuable asset is in safe hands.

Barbers integrated network of offices gives us a marketing edge over our competitors, team this with over 170 years of experience of the market and with the majority of our staff being professionally qualified this means you can have peace of mind when instructing us to rent our your property.

Why you should consider Property Management?

If you are looking for a lettings process completely free of stress, it is worthwhile considering a letting agent who offers Property Management. Letting Agents such as Barbers offer a service tailored to each Landlords needs, including managing the complete rental process and all aspects of managing a property on your behalf. For more information head over to our Property Management section on the website.

Did you know that almost half the UK population own a pet! Taking a pets considered approach to lettings makes good sense as it maximises the return on all your rental properties. http://www.letswithpets.org.uk/

A Landlords Guide:

As a landlord it is advisable to take a step back and look at your property as an investment for the future.

Points for Landlords to consider:

Think about your target market

Different tenants have different needs and therefore different requirements from a rental property.

For example:

• Families will be looking for space, a garden, a local school, local amenities and parking.
• Students for friends living together may be interested in public transport links, close to the town centre.

It is important to decide what your target market is first so you ensure your property is appealing to appropriate tenants. Letting agents such as Barbers will provide you with a free valuation of your property offering a realistic rental valuation and suggestions to maximise on your investment. We are always here to help and will always offer you constructive feedback.

Offer a blank canvass:

When prospective tenants view a property they will be trying to visualise themselves living there. It is better to offer the property as a blank canvass.

For Example:

• Consider removing pictures and photos from the walls and other personal possessions – it is unlikely that their taste will match yours.
• Stick to neutral colours when decorating or choosing new furnishings
• Consider painting the walls rather than papering, this can easily be updated and freshened up.

Well Maintained:

• Make sure fixtures and fittings are of a good standard and in good working order – the better the finish the more attractive the property is to a tenant.
• A clean and tidy bathroom suite is essential – nobody wants to use a bathroom encrusted with limescale!
• Gardens should be easily maintained – well stocked borders look more attractive but can be hard for people to keep on top of.
• Window casements and locks need to be in good working order for obvious security reasons.

Special Touches:

• Make the most out of special features in the same way you would if you were selling.
• Where possible try and ensure that a shower is fitted in the property. Statistically 50% of tenants prefer showers to baths – try and ensure all boxes are ticked
• The smallest and inexpensive touches can make all the difference. For example a deluxe kitchen won't necessarily add value – it just needs to be clean, tidy and functional.

Viewings:

You can expect the interested tenant to visit the property at least twice at different times in the day. Also it is likely they will be viewing a number of properties and may wish to refresh their memory on their shortlist. Some tenants may wish to come back with a member of the family for a second opinion.

If you are unable to manage viewings, Barbers can provide accompanied viewers who will be experts in the lettings process, the property and the area.

Be prepared for questions! Your prospective tenants may be new to the area therefore likely to ask questions about:

• The Neighbourhood
• Public Transport
• Local Schools
• Crime Rate
• Amenities
• Neighbours
• Noise in the area
• Council Tax and Utility Bills
• Parking

Is the tenant right for you?

As a landlord you will want peace of mind when letting your property. It is a very good idea to manage the rental process through an approved letting agent, who will credit check and apply for references for all tenants over the age of 18. A rent guarantee scheme will also be available. We will also provide an approved tenancy agreement.

Landlords Checklist!

• Do you have appropriate buildings and contents insurance for rental purposes?
• Have you informed your lender? If you have a mortgage their approval will be needed.
• Have you informed the Inland Revenue of your rental income?
• Gas Safety Check – you must have an annual check carried out by an engineer registered on the Gas Safe Register
• Have you had an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) carried out on the property?
• Have you had a periodic inspection review carried out on fixed wiring of the property? This is usually carried out every 5-10 years?
• Have you had all Electrical Appliances tested with certificates? This is required annually
• Have you had the boiler serviced? All boilers should be serviced annually.
• Do all furnishings comply with the current fire regulations?
• Have you provided all information booklets for appliances available in the property?
• Has the chimney been swept (If applicable to the property)
• Is the guttering free from obstruction?
• Has the water stopcock been checked and location noted?
• Are smoke alarms in place and working? One is required per storey of a property.
• has the property been checked internally and externally for necessary repairs prior to rental?
• Are the gas and electric meters accessible in the property
• Has the mail been re directed and the telephone line cancelled (By the bill payer)
• Has the tenants deposit been registered in an approved scheme?

Landlords Fees

Set up fees:

Our set up fee is taken from the first month’s rent once the property is let. The fee is dependent on the level of service required and type of property. For example an agreed rent at £550 per calendar month would incur a fee of £400 plus VAT ( £480 Total )

Plus a monthly management fee of 11% plus VAT eg £60.50 per month plus VAT ( £72.60 Total )

Rent Guarantee and Legal Expenses Cover:

We can provide a full rental guarantee and legal expenses indemnity in addition to our management service, at an extra 2% plus VAT from the monthly rent. ( Terms and conditions apply )

Deposit Registration:

Prior to the tenancy commencing a tenant will pay a deposit that Barbers will register on behalf of the landlord with an Approved Deposit Protection Scheme at a cost of £50 plus VAT (£60 Total)

Cancellation Charge:

If after a tenant has been sourced and terms agreed and the landlord cancels our agreement prior to the tenancy commencing then we would charge an administration fee of £100 plus VAT (£120 Total)