Landlord Lettings Guide
Our guide to being a landlord
Our guide to being a landlord
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Your <strong>Guide</strong> to<br />
Residential<br />
<strong>Lettings</strong><br />
www.markgilbertson.co.uk
WELCOME TO MARK GILBERTSON<br />
SALES AND LETTINGS<br />
ark Gilbertson<br />
Professional Property<br />
Agents have been<br />
trading since 2009, covering the<br />
borough of St. Helens as well as<br />
many surrounding areas.<br />
Much of our business is through<br />
word of mouth,<br />
recommendations and repeat<br />
business. We pride ourselves on<br />
our honesty and professionalism.<br />
WE have relationships with many<br />
local professionals and<br />
tradesmen so that we are able<br />
to help with your letting and<br />
on-going management.<br />
2 | Your <strong>Guide</strong> to Residential <strong>Lettings</strong><br />
www.markgilbertson.co.uk
OUR<br />
SERVICE<br />
www.markgilbertson.co.uk Your <strong>Guide</strong> to Residential <strong>Lettings</strong> | 3
PREPARING YOUR<br />
HOUSE FOR LETTING<br />
4 | Your <strong>Guide</strong> to Residential <strong>Lettings</strong><br />
www.markgilbertson.co.uk
www.markgilbertson.co.uk
SAFETY REGULATIONS<br />
AND PRECAUTIONS<br />
If you are renting a property in<br />
England, any tenancy you create<br />
or renew on or after 1 July 2020 will<br />
require an electrical inspection<br />
and a report on the condition of<br />
the property (EICR) performed by<br />
a qualified person. Pre-existing tenancies<br />
will need an EICR performed<br />
on all existing tenancies<br />
before 1 April 2021.<br />
6 | Your <strong>Guide</strong> to Residential <strong>Lettings</strong> www.markgilbertson.co.uk
www.markgilbertson.co.uk<br />
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SERVICES<br />
WE PROVIDE<br />
Tenant Introduction<br />
This service includes the following:<br />
• Production and distribution of<br />
materials, to include photographs<br />
and a floorplan.<br />
• Organising, where appropriate,<br />
an initial Energy Performance<br />
Certificate (EPC), Gas Safety<br />
Certificate and other legally required<br />
certification.<br />
• Provision of a To Let board.<br />
• Advertisements on various websites<br />
and property portals as well<br />
as our own website and Social<br />
Media outlets.<br />
• Accompanied Viewings.<br />
• Completion of comprehensive<br />
credit and income checks on<br />
prospective tenants, for which<br />
we use a third party specialist.<br />
• Collection of an appropriate deposit,<br />
which is lodged with the<br />
Deposit Protection Scheme.<br />
• Registration of the deposit on<br />
behalf of the landlord and tenant.<br />
• Collection of the first months<br />
rent. We arrange for subsequent<br />
payments to be paid direct to<br />
you.<br />
• Production of an appropriate<br />
tenancy agreement and associated<br />
documentation.<br />
• Production of a fully high resolution<br />
photographic inventory<br />
(signed by the tenant) for use as<br />
a comparison when<br />
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IMPORTANT<br />
CONSIDERATIONS<br />
safety items, such as smoke detectors<br />
and CO2 monitors. Ideally this<br />
should be prepared within 24 hours<br />
of the tenancy starting.<br />
Tenancy Deposit Protection<br />
At the outset of each tenancy we<br />
will collect a deposit from the<br />
tenant. The amount of the deposit<br />
is usually equivalent to one<br />
calendar months rent (this can be<br />
higher should the landlord feel it<br />
warranted).<br />
Since April 2007, in line with The<br />
Housing Act 2004, all deposits<br />
collected under an Assured Shorthold<br />
Tenancy (or renewal thereof)<br />
must be protected in one of the<br />
Governments authorised tenancy<br />
deposit schemes (details later in<br />
the brochure).<br />
Inventory<br />
It is essential to have an inventory<br />
prepared prior to the start of each<br />
tenancy. Not only is this used to<br />
record the condition of the property<br />
it is a useful last check of<br />
Security Deposits<br />
As mentioned we will collect a deposit<br />
from the tenants at the outset<br />
of the tenancy. This will act as a<br />
security deposit that can be set<br />
against any damage the tenant<br />
causes to the property or any arrears<br />
they build up during the lease<br />
period.<br />
We are members of the Deposit<br />
Protection Service, which is<br />
administered by:<br />
The DPS<br />
The Pavillions, Bridgwater Road,<br />
Bristol, BS13 8AE<br />
Tel: 0330 303 0030<br />
Email:<br />
contactus@depositproptection.com<br />
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Mortgage Consent<br />
If you have a mortgage on the<br />
property you are letting you will<br />
most likely need the consent of<br />
your mortgage lender.<br />
Most will give consent but they<br />
may charge an administration<br />
fee. To allow consent they may<br />
require information on the type of<br />
Tenancy Agreement you intend to<br />
use and the length of the tenancy.<br />
Keys<br />
You will need to provide your tenant<br />
with two sets of keys, including<br />
keys for any window locks. We will<br />
also need a spare key in the event<br />
of an emergency or the tenant<br />
looses keys etc.<br />
Should it be needed we will also<br />
be able to provide details of the<br />
<strong>Landlord</strong> Rent & Legal Policy we<br />
use.<br />
We also provide as standard a<br />
Rent and Legal Protection Policy<br />
for all tenancies for the initial period<br />
of the lease (subject to<br />
checks).<br />
www.markgilbertson.co.uk
For more information contact:<br />
St. Helens Office<br />
Sprayhurst House 133 Boundary Road<br />
St. Helens WA10 2LR<br />
Tel: 01744 750064 | office@markgilbertson.co.uk<br />
www.markgilbertson.co.uk