The Landlord Process: A Guide to Letting Your Property

Before introducing a property to the market, you must ensure it meets all structural and safety standards. This ranges from general professional cleaning to vital updates such as ensuring your heating systems, kitchens, and bathrooms are in fully functioning order. Under current legislation, properties must strictly adhere to the Decent Homes Standard. Ensuring a high standard of living from day one protects you against legal claims regarding hazards like damp and mould. We are with you every step of the way to ensure your property achieves compliance while securing the highest possible market rent.

To let your property successfully, you must know exactly what your statutory obligations are as a landlord. We provide honest, straightforward valuation advice that aligns with the local open market.

Important Legal Note: Under current laws, rental bidding wars are illegal. You must publish a fixed price for your property, and we are strictly prohibited from inviting, encouraging, or accepting rent offers above that advertised rate. Setting an accurate, legally sound price at valuation is more critical than ever.

While letting privately is an option, it now carries severe financial and legal penalties if compliance checks are missed. Choosing an estate agent provides total peace of mind. Whether you choose a "Let Only" service or our "Full Management" option, you gain access to expert legal safeguarding.

We oversee a comprehensive tenant vetting process. Furthermore, we ensure your property stays compliant with strict anti-discrimination laws, which make it illegal to refuse prospective tenants simply because they have children or receive benefits.

Once you appoint us, our marketing process begins. We ensure our entire lettings team previews your property prior to viewings so they can engage potential tenants with confidence. Our premium marketing package includes:

• Digital photographs taken by a professional property photographer.
• A professionally drawn up, accurate Floor Plan.
• A distinctive, high-visibility board erected outside the property.
• Digital exposure across major portals like Rightmove and Zoopla, alongside our bespoke website.
• Targeted local social media advertising campaigns.

We accompany every viewing unless you prefer to be present yourself.

Before viewings commence, ensure the property is tidy and decluttered. Under the Renters' Rights Act, prospective tenants have a legal right to request to keep a pet, which landlords cannot unreasonably refuse. During viewings, we will gauge applicant profiles and handle these requests professionally on your behalf.

Once a suitable applicant is found, we secure a Holding Deposit, which is legally capped at one week's rent. While the holding deposit is held, the property is paused from the market while a regulated third-party referencing company processes background, credit, and employer checks.

Rules for Retaining or Returning the Holding Deposit:

• If the tenant pulls out or fails verification due to misleading information: You may be entitled to retain the holding deposit to cover your costs.
• If you choose to withdraw from the tenancy: The holding deposit must be refunded to the applicant in full.

Once you approve the referencing findings, the move-in process begins. This includes:

• The Tenancy Agreement: Drafting an Assured Periodic Tenancy agreement. All tenancies roll month-to-month with no fixed end date, granting the tenant the right to exit at any time by giving two months' notice. (Note: If you ever need to regain possession to sell or move back into the property, you must serve a minimum of 4 months' notice under the expanded Section 8 grounds).
• Financial Caps: Collecting the Tenancy Deposit (strictly capped at 5 weeks' rent) and a maximum of one month’s rent in advance. Landlords cannot request or accept multiple months of rent upfront before a tenancy starts.
• Deposit Protection: Registering and protecting the deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days.
• The Inventory: Executing a comprehensive inventory of the overall condition and contents of the property before hand-over to protect your investment.

From this point forward, we will either hand management back to you or take over the day-to-day regulatory upkeep, maintenance, and mandatory rent reviews via our full management service.

Disclaimer: This guide is intended as a marketing summary of our services for landlords. Legislation within the private rented sector is subject to updates, including forthcoming registers like the Private Rented Sector Database and Landlord Ombudsman. Comprehensive legal advice tailored to your property portfolio is available from our specialist team upon request.