After making the decision to purchase a property for investment purposes, you need an efficient and experienced company to manage your property.

Choose BS Properties to do the work on your behalf everything from:

• Marketing the property on our web site and press and other social media outlets
• Credit checking of potential tenants
• Lease and documentation production and completion
• Holding viewings of the properties
• Drawing up a full property inventory
• Collection of the rent and paying promptly to Landlord
• Collection of the deposit and placing it into Government Deposit Scheme
• Liaising with tenants and dealing with any problems
• Regular property inspections and advice on letting value
• Taking all meter readings and changing over all utilities and council tax into tenants name
• Advice on legal requirements for both Landlords and Tenants
• Arranging furniture, carpets and decoration
• Arranging repairs and maintenance from joinery, electrical and plumbing to gardening and many more
• Organising EPC’s, annual Gas Safety Certificates, EICR’s, PAT Testing and Legionella Testing
• Administering deposits into the government schemes
• Tenant find only to full property management
• General and also end-of-let cleaning

Let only

With the let only service, the landlord would become solely responsible for any issues that arise following the commencement date of the tenancy.

The let only service will provide you with the following benefits:

• A rental valuation of your property.
• Local and national marketing, including a professional “To Let” board where appropriate.
• Carrying out an accompanied viewing with prospective tenants.
• Free advice on the presentation and preparation of your property.
• Considering applications from prospective tenants and (if required) guarantors, in order to assess suitability.
• Preparing and signing, as agent on your behalf, a suitable tenancy agreement in accordance with current law.
• Ensuring that service suppliers details are given to the tenant (i.e. gas, electricity, water rates and telephone services, where applicable).
• We provide information on insurance i.e. rental guarantee, fire, contents, landlords

Full management

In addition to the let only service the full management also includes:

• An inventory detailing the general condition and contents, which will be checked at the termination, prior to any deposit being repaid to the tenant.
• Collection of ongoing rental payments and forwarding them by bank transfer to your chosen account and forwarding monthly statements (deposits retained by a government approved deposit scheme)
• Inspection of the property at agreed intervals to ensure that the tenant/s are fulfilling their obligations under the terms of their tenancy agreement, as well as providing a written report of the property.
• Action against the tenant in the event of rental arrears or any other breach of condition within the tenancy agreement.
• Organisation of repair or maintenance, instructing a tradesman to attend the property, obtain estimates where necessary, supervise works and settle accounts. This shall be subject to the agreed cost limit. However in an emergency, the right is reserved to proceed without prior authorisation.
• Arranging service contracts if requested by the landlord.
• Carrying out a full property inspection and inventory check at the end of each tenancy and dealing with matters relating to unfair wear and tear, before releasing the tenant's deposit.
• Re-letting the property unless otherwise instructed by the landlord.

First Stages of Renting Your Property

Valuation

We will view the property initially to assess its rental value. At this point, we will answer any questions you may have and determine the most suitable service to meet your requirements. Also we will be able to make recommendations where necessary that could potentially increase the rental value of your property. Our advice at this point is completely free and aimed at making sure you have a firm understanding of all your obligations before proceeding to let your property.

Marketing your property

Once you have decided to appoint us as your agent, one of our representatives will visit the property in order to take some internal and external photographs. We shall use the photographs and the information we have collected to create an attractive advert, which we shall display whilst marketing your property.

In order to maximise property exposure, our website is updated daily and our properties are listed on market leading property portals.

Our highly trained and efficient staff will make sure that the best service is delivered to both the landlord and tenant.

Presenting the property

As the lettings market becomes more and more competitive, it is important that the property is presented in the best way possible. Without this, the property could remain empty for longer as well as affect its rental value.

To help a rental property appeal to a wider market, we would suggest the following:

• Keep the colours in the property neutral.
• Gardens must be kept maintained (when a tenant occupies the property, the maintenance of the garden becomes their responsibility).
• Keep the equipment provided and furnishings as contemporary as possible (can still basic).
• Check for any grouting issues in places such as the bathroom. Any mould issues here can really effect a prospective tenant's decision to rent the property.
• If the property is a flat with a communal entrance and hallway, make sure that for the benefit of all tenants that this area is kept tidy and clear of debris at all times.
• Double glazing and gas central heating is another popular feature amongst prospective tenants.
• In general, try to find and rectify any damages around the property that can be seen easily or experienced.

Obtaining the tenants and referencing

Arguably, the most important factor when letting the property is the prospective tenant. The whole success of letting depends on finding the right tenant. If an applicant wishes to proceed with a tenancy, we will assess their suitability.

The references aim to check that each tenant is creditworthy by for example checking for CCJ’s and arrears and obtaining employer, landlord and character references. Once references have been received, we will contact you to confirm the results of this and advise of the proposed checking in date.

All necessary legal paperwork, including an inventory, will be prepared and signed and any outstanding balances settled by the tenant before the tenancy commences.