Q: Who will be looking after my property?
A: Our experienced Lettings department has exceptional market knowledge and will ensure your property is marketed aggressively and managed efficiently. Landlords will have regular updates on the market and on their property in particular. Our objective is to provide continuous stress free management.
Q. What price should my property achieve?
A. We will provide property valuations and advice regarding suitable rental price. We will negotiate rent reviews to accurately reflect the current market condition.
Q: Am I getting the right refurbishment and presentation advice to achieve the best possible rental income?
A: Our team will offer advice on the presentation of your property for marketing purposes, including advice on furnishings and décor. We will advise you on any refurbishment work that may help your property both in terms of achieving better rental income and higher capital value. We will put you in touch with contractors or arrange quotations on your behalf on any work from simple redecoration to replacement kitchens and bathrooms. We always include professional internal and external photography for marketing.
Q. Where will my property be advertised?
A. We offer comprehensive marketing through appropriate local newspapers and publications, property ‘For Let’ boards, digital marketing through our website along with www.rightmove.co.uk, www.primelocation.com, www.findaproperty.co.uk, www.zoopla.com and various social media websites including Twitter and Facebook. We also advertise your property through our office rental availability lists, applicant mailing lists and prominent shop front window display cards.
Q. How do I instruct an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for my property?
A. We will instruct for an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to be completed prior to marketing on behalf of the landlord.
Q. Who will show perspective tenants around my property?
A. We will arrange and conduct accompanied viewings on behalf of the landlord during our office opening hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. We provide regular landlord updates and viewing reports where applicable.
Q. How can I be sure of the quality of the tenant selected?
A. We extensively interview and reference all prospective tenants to include a full credit check, employer and previous landlord references where applicable.
Q. What additional services are offered for tenants?
A. We issue a property specific welcome pack for new tenants. We offer a key handling service including cutting additional sets of keys if required. Landlords and tenants can benefit from discounted removal and storage services.
Q. Do I have to speak with my tenant directly?
A. We are the first point of contact for all tenant queries and we will negotiate mutually acceptable terms of the lease with the tenant on behalf of the landlord.
Q. What type of tenancy agreement will be used?
A. We will prepare and witness the signing of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST) and associated paperwork for a minimum period of six or twelve months. We guarantee tenancy compliance with statutory regulations under the Housing Acts 1988 and 1996. We will issue tenancy renewals (together with all relevant paperwork) to assure security of tenure, we liaise with both landlord and tenant at the end of the initial fixed term in order to extend the tenancy or continue on a periodic (month to month) basis.
Q. What insurance cover will I need?
A. We offer professional advice on landlord insurance services from a recognised provider. We include Landlord Rent Guarantee Insurance with acceptable applications. We offer an exclusive guarantee to remove a tenant from a property if they fail to pay their rent within the first twelve months of the tenancy. We benefit from expert legal advice together with information on conveyance services and property repossession through an acclaimed Midlands law firm.
Q. How can I protect the condition of my property?
A. We will complete a professional photographic Inventory including full schedule of condition of the property to be signed by the tenant. We complete monthly, quarterly or six monthly property interim inspections and landlord reports as agreed. We conduct a closing inspection and check out report to ensure all parties are satisfied at the end of the tenancy.
Q: Who looks after my money?
A: Landlord rental income is held in a protected and insured client account and paid over to you promptly. For your piece of mind, James Sellicks are a firm of Chartered Surveyors, have been in business for 12 years and are regulated by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Q. How is the rent account managed?
A. We implement monthly rent collection and tenant standing order management on the specified dates agreed under the tenancy agreement. Rental payments are received in our client account and transferred directly to the landlord. Detailed monthly landlord statements are prepared and e-mailed in accordance with payment dates. Accountancy services are available for tax returns.
Q. What happens if my tenant does not pay the rent?
A. We offer a complete debt management service including serving of relevant Notices.
Q. What happens if I move abroad?
A. We include HMRC Non-resident Landlord Tax guidance if applicable.
Q. Is my property compliant with current legislation?
A. We provide ongoing information on compliance regarding various safety regulations. We will monitor and instruct gas and electrical safety certificates where necessary on the landlord’s behalf.
Q. What is work is required at the property?
A. We endeavour to select competent tradesmen at a reasonable price and we have a list of trusted contractors. We will arrange maintenance work, obtain quotations and liaise with tenants subject to landlord approval. We are able to automatically instruct essential maintenance work up to an agreed limit without landlord consent in the interest of maintaining tenant satisfaction. We will always contact the landlord to inform of any works being carried out. We offer 24 hour tenant emergency maintenance assistance.
Q: How do I know the contractors working on my property will do a good job?
A: A major advantage of allowing us to manage your property is that we have a list of trusted and reasonably priced contractors who will quote on all levels of work. Rather than taking the risk of picking a contractor from the Yellow Pages or Google, we can provide available contractors with a long list of satisfied customers and we can instruct them on your behalf.
Q. How is the security deposit protected?
A. We are a member of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, which is a government-authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme. We will collect, hold and register the deposit under the Tenancy Deposit Scheme for the duration of the tenancy. We will serve the prescribed information and comply with the initial requirements of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme on your behalf, unless you give us prior written instructions to the contrary before we receive the deposit.
Q. What happens to the security deposit at the end of the tenancy?
A. We will administer the return of the security deposit to the tenant on behalf of the landlord. We will propose any reasonable deductions, negotiate and settle any damages and reimbursements as mutually agreeable between the landlord and tenant.
Q. What about my Mortgage?
A. Reputable advice is available to landlords from an expert financial adviser with specialist knowledge of ‘Buy to Let’.
Q. What if I have more than one property?
A. We offer landlords discounted property portfolio management.
Q. What happens at the end of the tenancy?
A. We ensure the correct legal procedure is abided by in order to terminate tenancy agreements, along with proactive re-letting of the property at the end of the tenancy.
Q: What are the other options available?
A: James Sellicks Lettings will provide you with all the advice necessary and develop a marketing strategy to make your property as attractive to let as possible. You also have at your disposal the experience and advice of our sales team at James Sellicks Estate Agents should you wish to seek a sales valuation.