Why choose us?
We provide a professional, friendly, high quality service which is tailored to each client’s specific needs and offer the following services to Landlords in respect to the letting and management of residential properties.
Property Inspections
We carry out routine inspections of all our rental properties, visiting every 4 months. Any significant problems are reported back to the landlord and we also advise on any maintenance programming going forward.
Tenancy Deposit Scheme
All tenants’ deposits are insured by ‘Tenancy Deposit Solutions’ held in our segregated client bank account. A cost is payable by Landlords for all new Shorthold Tenancies drawn up. This cost amounts to £42.00 inc VAT. For further information visit www.mydeposits.co.uk.
Tenant Reference/Credit checks
We complete reference/credit checks on all prospective tenants through a third party reference agent. ‘Right to Rent’ checks are completed on all Tenants.
Department for Communities and Local Government ‘How to rent’ Guide. This document can be viewed by tenants at https://www.gov.uk/government. Tenants are given a copy of this document at the start of their Tenancy.
Tenancy Agreements
To view a copy of our Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement please visit our office.
Landlords Gas Safety Certificate
By law, an annual 'Landlords Gas Safety Certificate' must be carried out on all letting properties. The approximate cost of this is £60.00 (exclusive of VAT). It is also recommended to have an annual boiler service, the approximate cost being £80.00 (exclusive of VAT).
Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
It is a legal requirement to install smoke alarms on every floor of the property. CMD must be installed in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a gas or oil boiler, gas fires, log burners or open fires (gas cookers are excluded). If a smoke alarm or CMD is faulty, landlords are legally required to repair or replace them.
Landlord Electric Safety Check
Landlords have a ‘duty of care’ to tenants to ensure the tenants safety with regard to the electrics in rental properties. Landlords are expected to have a qualified electrician carry out necessary checks on the electrics to ensure everything is to ‘current standards’ and ‘safe to use’. A certificate should be issued and copies provided to both tenant and agent.
Electrical safety checks are a legal requirement and must be completed every 5 years.
Energy Performance Certificate
All rental properties are to have an EPC carried out prior to the property being marketed. We can arrange for this to be done on your behalf. This is available for any prospective tenants to look at if required and all new tenants are provided with a copy. As of 1st April 2020, EPC’s must be rated E or above.
Legionella Risk Assessment
Landlords have a legal duty to ensure the risk of exposure of tenants to legionella is properly assessed and controlled. This duty extends to residents, guests, tenants and customers. Landlords can carry out a risk assessment themselves if they are competent, or we can arrange this at an initial cost of around £60 plus VAT. Landlords must sign and return a disclaimer if they carry out the assessment themselves.
Contents and Condition
In accordance with the creation of an 'Assured Shorthold Tenancy', we ask that landlords initially take an inventory of all contents and their condition that are to be left at the property. This will be used in line with ‘Tenancy Deposit Solutions’ terms and conditions should any disputes arise concerning deductions from the deposit.
Please note: We will also complete a full 'Inventory and Schedule of Condition' at the start of each new tenancy with digital dated photographs attached.
Schedule of Condition of the Property
We ask that landlords initially provide us with a schedule outlining the general condition of the property and its grounds. This is to be done on a room-by-room basis. We will then go through this ourselves and attach it to 'The Agreement'. Prior to being in a position to rent any property out, landlords are expected to have the property cleaned throughout, including the steam cleaning of all carpets. Tenants are expected to leave the property in the same condition when they vacate.
Advertising
For advertising purposes we use the services of Zoopla.co.uk, Onthemarket.com and Primelocation.com. We also advertise on our own website www.reidresidentiallettings.co.uk and display boards in our high street location office window.
Fees
Our standard fee for providing a letting and management service is 10% plus VAT of the annual equivalent rent.
Our full management service includes:
We also offer a tenant find service which includes:
If you would like us to just advertise your rental property on relevant portals, accompany viewings and reference/credit check prospective tenants and guarantors, our administration fee is £145 (plus VAT), plus £30 (plus VAT) per reference/credit check.
Reid Residential Lettings are a registered member of The Property Ombudsman (providing an independent redress scheme) and are a Safe Agent that has a client money protection scheme in place.