Our step-by-step guide to letting a property

Letting your house or flat need not be a complicated process, and Parkheath can offer you solid, professional advice based on many years of experience in the business. As a premier letting agency we are known for our meticulous care and attention to detail.

This guide will help you achieve the best rental income for your property, and in addition outlines the property management options available to landlords seeking this service. We look forward to helping you.

Valuing your property

The first step to letting your home is to either contact or visit your local office to make an appointment for a free valuation with one of our experienced members of staff.

Alternatively, you can request a valuation by filling in our simple online form. As soon as we receive the form, one of our experienced members of staff will contact you to arrange an appointment.

At Parkheath we believe that it is only through valuing a property accurately that we can achieve the best market price for your property.

If you have obtained several valuations on your property, it is advisable to ask the agents for details of other properties which they have recently let, in order to substantiate the higher valuations. This will help you to verify that the agent is being realistic and not giving false hope in order to obtain your marketing instructions.

Marketing

As soon as we have received confirmation of your instructions to market your property with us, your property will be uploaded to our website along with colour photographs, location maps and a printable colour brochure. All our prospective tenants will be alerted to your property via telephone, text and email contact. Further to this, the photographs are then used in our extensive marketing activities which include your property being featured in our office window, on various internet property portals, in mail drops and in local weekly and monthly publications.

Your local office will discuss with you the best campaign of advertising for your property to ensure maximum exposure to enable us to achieve the best price in the shortest time.

Safety regulations

There are a number of regulations that govern the letting of residential property. As a Landlord, you have an obligation to ensure that your property complies with all the necessary regulations covering gas appliances, electrical installations and any furnishings supplied for the Tenancy.

It is a legal requirement to provide the tenant and letting agent with a valid Landlord’s gas certificate every 12 months and we strongly recommend that you opt for the dual certificate which covers gas and electrical appliances. We can arrange either of these on your behalf.

Viewings

Our policy is to accompany all viewings. Having access to your property at short notice is important in order that we can show your property to prospective tenants as soon as they contact us with an interest in viewing your property; a set of door keys and/or contact details for the current occupier/s is essential.

Preparing your Property

The preparation that you put into your property in order for it to be ready for rental can make all the difference to how long the property is on the market, as the condition of a property is one of the main factors potential tenants will be considering. A well presented property will rent more easily, and it is best to ensure that it is put on the market in a good decorative state.

If you currently have tenants in the property, it is not possible for you to ensure that they keep the place tidy for viewings, so our lettings negotiators will explain this to prospective tenants before they carry out the viewing.

We recommend that the property is professionally cleaned. If the property is professionally cleaned at the outset of the Tenancy, then the tenant is obliged to pay for this service at the end of the Tenancy, so it is strongly advised that you arrange for this to be carried out. Parkheath will be able to organise this on your behalf if required

Finding the right tenant

Once we have found a suitable tenant for your property and terms have been agreed, we will apply for references on your behalf and forward this on to you for your consideration. If the tenant proves to be acceptable we will proceed to the next stage.

Property Management

More and more tenants, in particular corporate tenants, prefer to rent properties that are managed by an agent.

Property Management ensures full time care for your property and your tenant. After placing a tenant in your property, we also collect the rent, handle all the administration and assist with maintenance issues.

Parkheath offer a number of management packages which can be tailor-made to suit your requirements. Contact us for more information.

Tenancy Agreement

Once you have confirmed that you would like to proceed, we will draw up the relevant paperwork and form an agreement (the Tenancy Agreement), which is signed by both parties.

A Tenancy Agreement is a legally binding contract between a Landlord and a Tenant and sets out the contractual responsibilities of both parties. All persons over the age of 18 must be named on the Tenancy Agreement, up to a maximum of 4 tenants. Prior to the commencement date of the Tenancy, the agreement must be signed by all of the parties and, when everyone is happy to proceed, the contract will be dated, by hand, to put it into force. If Parkheath act as your managing agent, they are able to sign the Tenancy contracts on your behalf.

Inventory

In most instances an inventory will be prepared prior to the commencement of a Tenancy, which details the contents of the property and a schedule of its condition. Parkheath complies with the EEC regulations which states: ‘it is imperative that the Landlord provides an independent inventory prepared by an independent clerk’. A copy of this inventory will be supplied to both Landlord and tenant.

Deposits & rent

Deposit

Under legislation introduced on 6th April 2007, all deposits taken from tenants against possible damage to a property or non-payment of rent must now be covered by a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. This applies to Assured Shorthold Tenancies only.

Parkheath are members of the Tenancy Deposit Service (TDS) and are legally entitled to hold deposits on behalf of landlords. Further information is available at  Propertymark or TDS

Rent

Prior to the commencement of the Tenancy we will take an advanced rental payment from the tenant on your behalf.

Utilities

Please ensure that Parkheath are given details of the current utility suppliers for your property, account numbers if possible and the location of meters (especially water meters), to pass onto the in-going tenant, who will be responsible for payment of services once they are in the property.

You will need to notify these suppliers whenever there is a change of tenant and it is advisable to obtain meter readings at the outset and end of any Tenancy agreement. If we are managing your property, we will notify the utility companies when there is a change of occupier on your behalf.

Completion

On the day the Tenancy commences, we can arrange for your tenant to be checked into the property by an independent inventory clerk and for the keys to be handed over accordingly.

Parkheath is an ARLA Propertymark Licensed Member - 

https://www.propertymark.co.uk

This guide is intended to help readers navigate their way through the letting process under the estate agency systems in England and Wales. Readers take any advice at their own risk. Parkheath accept no responsibility for any action taken, or loss occurring, as a result of any advice and/or information in this guide.

If you require further information or advice, contact your local office to talk to one of our experienced members of staff.

Landlord Fee Schedule

Client Money Protection Certificate