Landlords

A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step! If you have a property which you are thinking of letting, or perhaps you are wondering whether to let or sell, then the single most important thing you need is good advice!

To make the decision that’s right for you, you need to know the advantages – and pitfalls – of letting your property. Our advice is free – but could save you a great deal of time and money.

One of our experienced staff will carry out an appraisal of your property, advise you of its likely rental value and how it should be advertised and promoted.

Remember, our valuers are experienced in the letting of property and can offer advice on legal requirements such as Safety Certificates etc. There is no charge for the appraisal visit.

We are finding that more and more Landlords are asking us to let and manage their properties. There are sound reasons for doing so, including peace of mind and less hassle! ‘Let Only’ means just that – we will find you an acceptable tenant and finalise the Tenancy documents.

After that, it’s up to you to collect the rent and deal with any issues such as repairs, tenancy renewals etc. With Full Management, you just leave everything to us – and after letting your property, we will collect the rent (accounting to you for it monthly) and look after any authorised repairs.

Our charges for Full Management are very competitive (and include compliance with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme requirements) – you might be pleasantly surprised.

A tenant will pay a security deposit to us before moving in, and is entitled to have it back at the end of the tenancy, provided the rent has been fully paid and the property is left clean and in good order.

Any rent arrears, together with the cost of rectifying any damage or having cleaning carried out may be deducted from the deposit at the end of the tenancy. All money deposited with D B Roberts & Partners is held in a special Clients Account and we ensure full compliance with the legal requirements of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme – another thing you need not worry about.

All our tenants are credit checked and approved tenants also qualify for a rent guarantee, which means that your rent will still be paid even if the tenant gets into difficulty.

We would not generally advise letting except with a rent guarantee. As Landlord, this guarantee costs you nothing for the first 6 months, but buys peace of mind. Please contact one of our lettings team to discuss rent guarantee and legal cover in more detail.

Properties are usually let as Assured Shorthold Tenancies, typically for a period of 6 or 12 months, at the landlord’s option. At the end of the Term, the landlord may agree to let to the same tenant for an extra term if he wishes, but otherwise is entitled to regain possession of the property, provided the relevant Notice document has been served, then the tenant must move out.

Overseas residents who receive rental income from UK property may well be liable to pay tax on that income. We are used to helping ex-patriot landlords in simplifying their tax arrangements and, of course, with the internet and e-mail, we can communicate with you wherever you are in the World.

As a Landlord, you are responsible for the safety of your tenant and the suitability of your property. Gas and Electricity are covered by legal safety requirements, while The Furniture & Furnishings Regulations of 1988 cover fire safety issues.

Your mortgage lender also has to know about your plans to let your property; otherwise you could face financial penalties. And your insurance cover may be affected by letting a tenant into your property.As Managing Agents, we can help you deal with these requirements.

The Government requires that all residential rented property has an EPC. We have our own team of fully qualified and accredited Domestic Energy Assessors who are authorised to carry out this work.

We can supply you with a fully compliant EPC – whether or not we are letting or managing your property. Contact our DEA Centre energy@dbroberts.co.uk

Just as some people service their own cars and re-fit their own kitchens, you can certainly let your own property. But in your busy day-to-day life, the reassurance of knowing that your major investment is being let to a reliable tenant, at a guaranteed rent, the deposit is safely held in compliance with the law and all maintenance and repairs are being dealt with by tried and tested local contractors, is worth the small cost involved.

After all, while most lettings proceed to a smooth and trouble-free conclusion, there can be difficulties along the way – and that’s when you appreciate having an expert on hand to look after things for you.

Each year we sell, let and survey hundreds of properties and most of our clients are more than satisfied. But once in a while, we don’t quite get things right – we’re only human after all.

Like you, we prefer to resolve any issues with you in an open and friendly way; but, if we can’t, we are happy to offer you free access to independent determination of your complaint. We can’t be fairer than that.

Download DB Roberts Complaints Procedure PDF here