Lettings

An empty property is of no benefit to a Landlord and appearances really do count. The moment a Tenant steps into the property they will have an idea of whether they can see themselves living there. A touch of paint to the front door, a fresh neutral colour scheme throughout offers a versatile backdrop for any prospective Tenant to consider how their belongings might look in situ. Neutral flooring and carpet is an appealing feature to a Tenant – it is worth selecting a carpet that is easily cleaned and cost-effectively replaced – accidents do sometimes happen. If lightbulbs have lost their glow, replace them. All these things demonstrate that this Landlord cares, and is likely to appeal to a Tenant who wants to make your property a cosy home.

Give some thought to the exact date you would like to let your property. We recommend introducing your property to the market 6-8 weeks beforehand and with our marketing and advertising campaigns we will attract the very best Tenants.
Consider the cost of being a Landlord. Be prepared for any unexpected maintenance costs, don’t get caught out with unexpected expense.
The Lettings market can move quickly. So, be prepared to allow Tenants to view your property at short notice and it does pay to be flexible with your move date.

Be assured that we will keep you up to date with the ever-changing Lettings legislation. We are experts in our field– we can advise you on all the important things that keeps you and your Tenant safe. As a Landlord, here are a few things you need to be aware of:

• • Arrange an annual gas safety check – does your cosy gas fire pass the Landlord’s gas safety certificate?
  • Fit smoke alarms on every floor and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms using coal or wood to warm them up. Make sure that these alarms are tested at the start of a new tenancy.
  • Consider whether you need an Electrical Safety Certificate. We can provide you with all the information to ensure that you are legally compliant and aren’t at risk of any surprising fines.
  • Does that cosy sofa have safety labels attached? If you are letting furnished, make sure your furniture complies with The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended in 1989, 1993 and 2010)
  • If a deposit is taken, it is a Landlords duty to ensure this is protected.

Arrange for an inventory to be drawn up. They say the Devil is in the detail – and this couldn’t truer when letting a property. Gone are the days when a handwritten note will suffice. A comprehensive inventory is the best way to minimise the risk of a dispute at the end of tenancy. Inventories need to be drawn up whether a property is being let furnished or unfurnished. Everything within the property needs to be recorded and photographed, including fixtures and fittings such as kitchen units and work surfaces, as well as carpets and décor. Should there be any existing damage, this must also be recorded.

DOMVS Lettings is a member of the Property Ombudsmen Redress Scheme.

DOMVS uses a tenancy agreement designed to protect your rights to possession and to help control the tenant’s activities, whilst ensuring that all terms are fair to both tenant and landlord, thus making sure you comply with the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999.  Our tenancy agreements are regularly updated to include the ever-changing legislation.

As a landlord, you need to establish what kind of management service suits your needs.  You may wish to be a “hands-on” landlord, in which case our Let Only service would best suit you.  If you would prefer to take a back seat and let DOMVS take the strain, our Fully Managed service is for you.

Once you have found a suitable property through DOMVS, a reference fee of £75.00 inc. VAT per applicant and an administration fee of £180.00 inc. VAT per property is payable upon receiving a completed application. This fee includes negotiating the terms of the tenancy and all the necessary paperwork including the tenancy agreement. These fees are non-refundable should you wish to withdraw your application.  Please note, however, should your application be refused either by DOMVS, the landlord or our referencing company, the administration fee will be refunded.

The granting of a tenancy will be subject to approved references, which may be collated by our referencing company and, in some cases, a guarantor may be required.  Full financial references will then be required for the guarantor at a charge of £75.00 inc. VAT. A Deed of Guarantee will also have to be signed by the guarantor.

All tenants must undergo a Right to Rent check.

A deposit will be required (usually equivalent to six weeks’ rent), this will be payable prior to the commencement of the tenancy and is held for the duration of the tenancy. The deposit will be registered with the Deposit Protection Service (DPS) www.depositprotection.com, within 30 days of the commencement of the tenancy, or receipt of the deposit, whichever is earlier. For further information on Tenancy Deposit Protection please click on the website link: www.communities.gov.uk/tenancydeposit.  Please note that no interest will be paid on the deposit.

All properties are let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy basis unless otherwise agreed.

Should a tenancy be renewed for a further fixed term, a renewal fee will be payable.  This fee is currently £60.00 inc. VAT.

The deposit and first month’s rent must be paid to us either by banker’s draft or BACS transfer. The tenancy cannot commence until cleared funds have been received. The Rent is payable monthly in advance by standing order direct to DOMVS (if we are managing the property), or direct to the Landlord for our Let Only service.  Rent is always due on a given date; a late payment charge will be made should the rental be 7 or more days late. This fee is £30.00 inc VAT per letter sent

All property rents exclude water/sewerage charges, gas, electricity, telephone, council tax and television licence, unless otherwise stated.

We recommend that you have adequate insurance to cover accidental damage to the landlord’s fixtures and fittings.

DOMVS Lettings is a member of The Property Ombudsman redress scheme.