Letting with Smartmove

Letting your property can be a daunting experience and trying to find the right tenant can be a challenge in itself. With this in mind our most important concern is to provide you, the Landlord, with the best possible service which offers sound advice and support as well as saving you time and money.

Carefully Selected Quality Tenants

Drawing from a continually updated register we will find the right tenant for your property. All tenants are thoroughly referenced and credit checked and in some cases we also obtain a guarantor to ensure that your rent is secure. We also provide the following services:

• Preparing contracts

• Setting up Standing Orders

• Preparing a Professional Inventory

• Checking tenants into the property

• Full Rent Collection

• Landlord paid by online banking

• Quarterly Inspections

• Rent statements

• Maintenance Service

Deposit Protection Scheme

The law requires that a third party holds the deposits of all tenants. This is just one of a number of legal requirements we take care of.

Insurance for Landlords

We offer advice and guidance on the Rental Guarantee Cover and a range of competitive insurance products designed specifically for Landlords, which provide security and peace of mind.

Preparing the Property

Property is our business and we know that a good relationship with Tenants is the key to a smooth-running tenancy. It is also important that Tenants should feel comfortable in their temporary home and that they are receiving value for their money. Therefore a well-maintained property in good decorative order will contribute significantly towards this. Also a well presented property can achieve a higher rental income and tenants are more inclined to look after such a property with greater respect.

General Condition

The electrical, gas, plumbing, waste, central heating and hot water systems must be safe, sound and in good working order. The repair and maintenance of these items is at the Landlord’s expense, unless misuse can be established. Interior decorations should be in good condition and preferably plain, light and of a neutral colour.

Furnishing

If you are renting the property unfurnished then you should still provide a fridge and a cooker as a basic minimum. If you are renting it as either furnished or partly furnished it is recommended that you provide only minimum furnishings which should be of reasonable quality.

In either case it is beneficial to have some furnishings in the property for viewings as this demonstrates to potential tenants what the property could look like and how comfortable they could be in it. You can tell us which items will not be left in the property during the tenancy and we will advise clients accordingly at viewings.

If you would like more detailed suggestions about how to furnish your property we will be happy to advise you.

There are many little things that you can do which can make a considerable difference on the impact it has on prospective tenants. These include:

• Leave nice, clean bed sheets on the beds.

• Remove any old furniture from the property, if you wont use the furniture in your home tenants will not want it in theirs.

• We recommend that you always have drapes or at least light coloured net curtains in all windows. If you wish to let the property unfurnished and do not wish to provide drapes you should try and hang some net curtains.

Personal Items

Personal possessions, ornaments, pictures, books etc. should be removed from the premises, especially those which are of real or sentimental value. Some items may be boxed, sealed and stored in the loft at the owner's risk. All cupboards and shelf space should be left clear for the Tenant's own use. TV’s, video and other electrical goods are provided at your own risk.

Garden

Garden should be left tidy without any discarded items or litter and any lawns should be cut. Tenants are required to maintain the gardens to a reasonable standard, provided they are left the necessary tools. If you value your garden or if it is particularly large, you may wish us to arrange visits by our regular gardener, this can be arranged on request. Please note, it is now a legal requirement that if you require the tenants to maintain your garden you must provide the necessary tools.

Cleaning

At the commencement of the tenancy the property must be in a clean condition and at the end of each tenancy it is the tenants' responsibility to leave the property in a similar condition. Where they fail to do so, cleaning will be arranged at their expense. Pay particular attention to:

• All paintwork, skirting boards, picture rails and architraves

• Ceramic tiles

• Edges of floors and carpets

• Remove any dust and dirt from drawers and units

• All kitchen appliances including hob, grill, oven, microwave, shelving, rubber seals, dishwasher, extractor hood, fridge and freezer.

• All bathroom fittings.

• Ceiling and wall light fittings and their respective shades and test that all bulbs are working

• All windows and secondary glazing, inside and out.

Information for the Tenant

It is helpful if you leave information for the tenant, e.g. on operating the central heating and hot water system, washing machine and alarm system, and the day bins are emptied etc. We would request that the boiler instructions are either left in the property or given to the agent.

Keys

You should provide one set of keys for each property, Where we will be managing we will arrange to have duplicates cut as required.