Fylde Property, St.Annes Estate Agents & Property Management | Lytham St.Annes, Blackpool, Fylde Coast

Fylde Property Landlords

Our management and commercial division, under the supervision of Director Andrew Connell has expanded at a rate which was never envisaged at its inception.

There has been a noticeable increase in the interest and demand for good residential investment properties during recent years. These properties can provide a high rate of return if managed properly, which can prove very attractive in the current economic climate of low interest rates and when these rates climb.

Fylde Property Services

Advertise only - This service is ideal for experienced landlords who are only looking for assistance with the marketing of their property while all viewings and tenancies are completed by the landlord. With additional assistance if required.

Tenant Find - This service includes finding a tenant, taking up references, drawing up and supervising the signing of a legally approved tenancy agreement with all utility companies informed of the change of occupier and meter readings.

Rent Collection - For landlords who don't want the responsibility of rent collection for their property, used in conjunction with Tenant Find, with landlords taking care of all maintenance issues which may arise and being the first point of contact for their tenant.

Full Management - The full package, with all contact through ourselves inclusive of rent collection, finding a tenant, utility management, 24 hour emergency contact number, repair organisation, property inspections to name a few. With you, the landlord able to have as much or as little involvement as they desire.

Above all we look forward to assisting you with the day to day running and making the most out of your investment property whichever one of our options you consider.

Management and Letting Service Stucture

Whether you are an experienced landlord looking for some assistance with advertising your property to achieve the best and quickest results, a landlord who is moving out of the area and needs someone to look after things while you are away or a 'new' landlord who has never let a property before - we are able to help.

Our Management and letting service is designed to cover all eventualities, broken down into steps, to help you identify the areas where we can be of assistance, so that as a landlord you don't have to pay for a service that you do not require.

There are essentially 7 steps to renting any property, these steps form the foundation of our management and fee structure, outlined briefly in the following list, then in detail below.

• Initial Meeting
• Preparation
• Advertise
• Tenant Application
• Move tenant in
• Ongoing Management
• Tenant vacation & reletting
• Initial Meeting

We aim to arrange an initial meeting with you the landlord at the property which is to be rented out, this enables us to see the property in question, discuss with you the services you require, advise you of probable rental income. This meeting also allows us to take photographs of the property to ensure advertising success.

Preparation

On our initial meeting we will issue you with a questionnaire regarding the property to be let - including information on who the utility suppliers are, where the utility stop cocks are, bin days, council tax bands etc. This enables us to inform the correct companies when a tenant moves in and ensures that we can issue the tenant the correct information regarding the property when they move in. In addition we will issue you a check list prior to renting your property, including legal requirements such as Gas Safety certificates, EPC's, smoke detectors and alarms to ensure your property is ready to market and rent - we are able to assist with any aspect on this list and have local tradesmen on hand to ensure all these requirements are met. The landlord agrees to indemnify the agent against any expenses or penalties that may be suffered as a result of non-compliance of the property to fire and safety standards.

It is essential that you as a landlord ensure the property is adequately insured and that the insurance policy covers the situation where the property is let and the terms of the lease - we can however advise of insurers.

Advertising

Upon meeting at the property we will take extensive internal and external photographs of the property to let for the purpose of advertising.

These photographs will be stored on our computer and added to various marketing material inclusive of window and wall displays in the office, property lists, South Fylde Property News, Rightmove and our website to name a few.
In addition to inhouse advertising we also erect a highly visible to let board outside the property, enabling members of the public passing the property to know it is available.

Once we receive enquiries regarding the property we arrange accompanied viewings with prospective tenants, following if they are interested they are required to re-visit the office to complete an application.

Tenant Applications

For those tenants who express an interest in moving in we take up full references, including a credit check and residency check via Equifax, current and previous landlord references (especially in the case of those tenants who have moved every 6 months), employer reference, proof of earnings and identity verification.

Once these references have all been received we will make an informed decision whether to continue and let the property to the prospective tenant. When this decision has been made we request a bond from the tenant - equivalent to one months rent to hold the property until their move in date, this bond is then transferred into the bond protection scheme in accordance to government guidelines, to be returned at the end of a satisfactory tenancy.

Moving the tenant in

Upon the moving date we arrange to meet the tenant at the property to hand over keys and sign agreements - the agent on behalf of the landlord will sign and the tenant is required to sign 2 copies of the tenancy agreement, a section 21 notice (2 month notice not to extend the contract beyond the first 6 months), utility declaration (stating that while resident in the property they agree they are responsible for and will pay all utility bills which fall due), bond protection certificate, standing order form for the purpose of rental payments, condition of property schedule and inventory (detailing in full the condition of and number of items included in the property).

The tenant will pay the first months rent in advance and be issued with one set of keys to the property.

Once returning to the office all the utility and payment details will be entered onto our database, a statement will be generated for the landlord detailing the rental payment made by the tenant, any deductions and the amount which will be paid via BACS to your nominated account. Utility companies will be sent a letter including the tenants details, date of entry to the property and meter readings, local council tax offices will be notified also of the change of occupancy.

Ongoing Management

We will arrange inspection of the property at - month 3, month 6 and month 12. Thereafter generally inspections are completed on a 12 monthly basis, unless requested earlier or when circumstances dictate.

On the subject of maintenance - we will arrange any repair or maintenance required, this can be done in a variety of ways, you can set a repair limit - perhaps £100, whereby any repairs required under that limit will be conducted without the need to inform you, and anything over will be authorized after receiving quotes, or you can be contacted for every small job which is required. It must be agreed that in an emergency we may authorize a repair once a reasonable estimate is obtained. We promise to select competent tradesmen at a reasonable price, but can not be held responsible for or guarantee the standard of work.

Tenant Vacation and Re-Letting

All tenants are required to deliver notice of one month or more in writing when they would like to end a tenancy with us, as detailed in the terms of the tenancy agreement. The landlord will be informed in writing that the tenant wishes to vacate the property and the date, after which we will proceed to re-advertise the property for rent.

On the moving date we will attend at the property to complete a final inspection, we also cross check the condition of property schedule and inventory which was signed by the tenant at the start of the tenancy to ensure that the property is in good condition. Meter readings will be taken on the vacation date and a utility declaration signed, detailing the move in and move out meter readings, dates of occupation and forwarding address.

Any issues relating to unfair wear and tear on the property will be explained, prior to the bond being unprotected and returned to the tenant via cheque at their forwarding address as detailed in the tenancy agreement. Any deductions made from the deposit will be paid to the landlord via BACS within 10 days of the tenant vacating the property.

Management fees will not be charged to landlords while the property is empty, however the landlord will be responsible for standing charges for utilities, council tax if the property is furnished, any maintenance required to ensure the property is ready for re rental.

Miscellaneous

General Authority - the landlord must confirm they are the sole/joint owners of the property and that they have the right to rent out the property under the terms of the lease/mortgage. The landlord authorizes the agent to take deposits on their behalf and authorizes the agent to carry out the management of their property.

Indemnity - the landlord agrees to indemnify the agent against costs, expenses or liabilities incurred or imposed on the agent provided they were incurred on behalf of the landlord in pursuit of the agents normal duties.

Instructions - It must be agreed that any instructions to the agent from the landlord relating to termination, proceedings, major repairs, payment details or other significant details regarding the letting be confirmed to the agent in writing.

Mail Redirection - landlords should arrange mail redirection with the post office and inform banks, clubs etc of their change of address. Mail forwarded by fylde property will be charged according to postal costs and itemised on statements.

Legal Proceedings - the agent will deal with any delays of payment or other defaults in the first instance. Where the agent has been unsuccessful in these initial actions, we will assist in appointing a solicitor. The landlord will be responsible for payment of all legal fees and any related costs.

Description of Services

Advertise only option - ideal for experienced landlords who are looking to advertise a property, making use of the advertising media we subscribe to. All enquires will be sent directly to the landlord to arrange viewings etc. A one off fee payable upfront upon advertising.

Tenant find only option - ideal for local landlords who want to look after the property themselves but who need assistance finding the correct tenant and with the legal aspect of tenancy agreements and bond protection. We find a tenant and sign them up for a one off fee - there after all payments and maintenance issues become the responsibility of the landlord.

Rent collection only option - for landlords who want to control the maintenance of the property themselves but who want the rent collected and paid into their account on a monthly basis without having to chase the tenant.

Full management - the full package.

Renovation - a bespoke service offered via our inhouse maintenance team, to assist landlords who have a run down property or one requiring modernization prior to rental - we are able to assist and ensure works are completed within an allocated budget and timeframe. Further details on request.