Landlords

Our Letting & Management service to Landlords

The London Sales and Lettings Property Management Services are handled by our sister company The London Letting Company (established 1987).

We offer a let only service or a Letting & Management service

We have learned many things over the years, but one thing remains our constant goal; which is offering a high standard professional service. Whether you’re a first time landlord or a professional landlord we believe it is all about building relationships. That’s why we take the time to get to know you, your situation and your property thoroughly, to guarantee you the best possible outcome. We understand that communication is key to any successful relationship.

Our letting service which includes comprehensive marketing of your property, introducing the right tenant and arranging a tenant reference through a well-established referencing company (cost to landlord), collecting the rent throughout the tenancy (optional) and dealing with the renewal or termination of the tenancy.

In addition to our letting service we offer an extensive management service to suit your requirements. The services offered are:

  • Property Inspections to make sure your tenants are taking good care of the property
  • Dedicated Property Manager
  • Trusted Maintenance Contractors
  • Collecting the rent throughout the tenancy
  • Out of hours 24hrs Emergency Service
  • Post Tenancy checks and arranging works in Preparation for New Tenancy
  • Keeping your Health and Safety obligations up to date
  • SECURITY Deposit Registration
  • Negotiating Dilapidation Claims and Dealing with Deposit Disputes
  • Arranging inventory Check Ins & checkout (price subject to size of property)
  • Arranging Gas Safety Check  (a legal requirement).
  • Arranging EPC check (a legal requirement).
  • Arranging Rent Guarantee Insurance (optional)
  • Serve Section 21 Notices
  • Refurbishment and maintenance works can be arranged and a full project management service can be offered

Preparing the documentation required by the current legislation and collecting the deposit and first month’s rent is all part of the service. There are certain legal requirements that must be met prior to renting your property.

All landlords have a Duty of Care to ensure their tenants are safe.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 state that all let and managed properties must be tested annually for safety. Only Gas Safe registered businesses with Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) qualified engineers are authorised to carry out work on gas appliances and piping.

Licences:
It is not only large houses in multiple occupation (HMO) that require a licence. Many councils have introduced additional or selective licensing on rental properties, you should check with your council if this may apply to your property.

Energy Performance Certificate:
Before placing a property for rental (or for sale) it is a legal requirement to provide an  Energy Performance certificate  (EPC), which is valid for 10 years.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms:
Landlords are required by law to install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (if applicable) in their properties.

The law requires that all appliances are safe and strongly recommends that everything should be independently tested. Duty of Care demands that all electrical appliances are tested on a regular basis, particularly at the point at which the property becomes available to let.

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 state that supplying unsafe appliances is an offence. In the event of an accident involving electricity the landlord must be able to demonstrate that the supply and appliances are safe. This can only be done if they have been independently tested.

Fire and Furnishings Regulations

Since 1st January 1997, all furniture provided in furnished rented accommodation – houses, flats, bedsits – must meet the fire resistance requirements of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1998.
The regulations apply to any of the following upholstered items:

  • Beds, mattresses and headboards
  • Sofa beds, futons and any other convertibles
  • Loose and stretch covers for furniture
  • Nursery furniture
  • Scatter cushions, seat covers and pillows

Legionella Risk Assessment

Legionella is a potentially fatal illness like pneumonia which can be caught by inhaling bacteria generated by hot and cold water heating systems including storage tanks which are not functioning properly or have been stagnant for some time. The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and the control of Substances Hazardous to Health 1999 have recently changed and the Control of Legionella bacteria in Water Systems Approved Code of Practice (“ACOP L8”), now applies to domestic living. It is recommended that all landlords of residential rental properties have a Legionella Risk Assessment completed every two years to comply with the law.

Tenants over the age of 45, smokers or heavy drinkers, or those suffering from respiratory or kidney disease or immune system problems, might be considered particularly vulnerable.

We can introduce you to an expert who can assess your property for Legionella and provide you with a report.

We are members of the PRS – PROPERTY REDRESS SCHEME  & Registered for CLIENT MONEY PROTECTION.

View our agency fees here