Residential Letting Services

Services to Landlords…..

The key to successfully letting a property, especially if being a landlord is new to you, is to seek advice from experienced professionals. At FSL all staff members are landlords themselves and have learnt from experience, both good and bad, about all aspects of renting a property.

FSL already look after many properties for all types of landlords; from professional investors with sizeable portfolios, to individuals who require peace of mind knowing their home is in safe hands.

Our extensive knowledge and experience of the lettings market helps guide landlords through the minefield of regulations and legislation involved in letting a property. Our team is able to offer good practical advice on how to achieve the best return from your property, both in terms of rental income and capital appreciation.

FREE MARKET APPRAISAL

FSL offer Free Rental Advice. Following a visit to your property to undertake an assessment we will advise on rental figures that can be achieved and advise on other matters such as whether the property should be furnished or unfurnished, what sort of tenants would be suitable and current legislation and safety regulations which would have to be adhered to.

ONLINE MARKETING

We are big fans of the Internet and recognise it’s value as part of the overall marketing strategy when letting your property. We now get far more enquiries from our website and the main property portals than we do from traditional newspaper advertising. Our website features both internal and external photographs together with a detailed description of the property features.

LET ONLY

Normally on a sole agency basis with a one off tenant-find fee. This fee is only payable if the property is let and includes:

Marketing the property to include all advertising etc., and accompanied viewings if required.

Advising on the requirement for an EPC

Preparation of Tenancy Agreements

Forwarding balance of rent and deposit to Landlord (or submitting Deposit to DPS if required)

Advising landlord on legislative requirements

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FULL MANAGEMENT

Always on a sole agency basis with a one off tenant find fee, plus a monthly management fee. By managing the property for you, we deal with everything, including the hassle. We are however merely caring for your investment and all decisions remain with you as the owner. You can have as much or as little involvement with the tenancy as you wish.

This service includes all of the services of the Let Only Service plus:

Collection of rents and forwarding balance on a monthly basis.
Preparation of statements with payments.
Payment of outgoings, subject to landlords approval such as ground rent, service charges, repairs/purchases etc.
Undertaking routine inspections of the property.

Writing to the tenant, following the correct legal procedure, if ever the rent is in arrears.
Checking inventory/schedule of condition on tenant’s departure, prior to deposit being released in accordance with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
Any queries from the tenant are directed through ourselves so the landlord does not have to deal directly with the tenant.
Rent reviews and tenancy renewals.

Naturally major decisions are referred to the landlord with advice unless this is not required. You remain in control while we take all the hassle.

RENT GUARANTEE

We offer a number of warranty products at competitive rates from Homelet which guarantee that you will receive rental payments even if the tenant doesn’t pay. They also ensure any non paying tenants are dealt with swiftly and legally. The rent guarantee warranty is provided by Homelet. Prices start at as little as £15 per month.

BUY TO LET

We are happy to advise on letting potential of properties you may be thinking of purchasing to let and are happy to look at properties with you. There is no charge for initial letting advice but there may be a small charge if your lender requires a written report of the letting potential of a specific property.

CARETAKING SERVICE

If you are leaving the area or country and do not wish to let your property we are able to provide a care taking service which can be individually tailored to your specific needs but can include such things as arranging gardeners, re-directing post, holding a monetary fund for routine utility bills, general maintenance, checking time switches and simply keeping an eye on your property.

TAKING OVER EXISTING TENANCIES

We are happy to take over the management of existing tenancies whether previously managed by yourself or other agents. The fee payable is as per our usual management terms without the payment of the initial up front letting fee.

RENTAL PAYMENTS

Rents are paid over to the Landlord quickly and efficiently using electronic banking. Our monthly statements clearly show all income and expenditure.

How Much Is Your Home Worth?

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REFERENCES AND TENANCY AGREEMENTS

Once suitable tenants have been found, we endeavor to seek satisfactory references such as employers, character and previous landlords. We use Homelet to undertake the majority of these checks. In some cases we may seek a guarantor, i.e. if the prospective tenant(s) does not have a regular income or are in full-time education. Once we have received satisfactory replies to our enquiries and subject to landlord’s approval, we draw up a Tenancy Agreement, a standard Shorthold Assured Tenancy, usually for a minimum 6 month term, but could be up to 3 years subject to approval. Once the initial term has expired, unless the landlord/agent has particular concerns over the conduct of the tenancy or either party have served notice (the landlord in statutory form) the tenancy automatically rolls over to a periodic tenancy, continuing on a monthly basis until either party gives notice or a new fixed term agreement is signed.