How will Prospects UK advertise my property?

You will see your property appear on Gumtree, our social media accounts and Zoopla. Your property details will also be listed on our database and given out to the general public, displayed in our shop front and emailed daily to awaiting tenants from our applicant base. The market is a competitive place when letting a property. Potential tenants are getting choosier and are always looking for the best deal. Online presence and digital marketing is a must.

Prospects UK has tried and tested ways to advertise properties and bring potential tenants through the door. We are always happy to meet with you to discuss ways in which we will advertise your properties using different marketing strategies that are available to you.

Who is responsible for the utility bills and council tax?

Whilst the tenant is occupying the property, he/she is responsible for paying the gas, electric, water and council tax. We will take all relevant readings from the meter's on the day the tenant moves in. We will ask the tenant to confirm that all utility suppliers have been informed of the properties occupation and may ask for proof of this.

What happens when my tenant moves in?

Once the references are completed, we can then set a move in date. On the chosen move in date the tenant will pay one month’s rent in advance together with a deposit usually equivalent to one month’s rent. The initial rent will be forwarded to you minus our fees; this will be paid into your nominated bank account unless you specify otherwise. The deposit will be held in our DPS (deposit Protection Service) unless otherwise specified. We will require proof of a landlords’ preferred scheme should you choose to hold the deposit yourself. Prospects UK will provide tenants with an Assured shorthold tenancy agreement for a minimum period of six months and recommend that a maximum initial agreement should be no longer than twelve months. Tenancy agreements can be renewed after the initial fixed period has expired or continue on a monthly rolling contract.

We also provide an inventory which simply lists all items (including fixtures and fittings) and their condition at the time of the move in. This will be both written and photographic evidence. The inventory is held on file as a record of the scheduled condition of the property. This is then used when tenant wishes to move out of a property to compare the condition at the beginning and end of their tenancy.

What happens if a tenant does not pay?

Whilst we expect to receive the rent from the tenant on time every month unfortunately for one reason or another a tenant may not pay on time. We will look into the tenants’ situation to assess the reason for the rent being late. We work closely with all tenants to ensure we are always on top of any potential problems and aim to resolve any issues before they arise. If you would like to make use of a rent guarantee service please contact our office to discuss your individual requirements.

Maintenance on your property

There will come a time during the rental period that a breakage, appliance breakdown down or damage will occur. We have a dedicated team on hand which cover all aspects of property maintenance. In the event of a problem accruing at a property we will first call the landlord to confirm that we can go ahead with any works and then schedule any work to be done. We are always very keen to organise work as fast as possible in order to keep tenants happy. If we get a call out of hours and are unable to contact the landlord we will assess the situation and resolve the problem if necessary.

Who pays for insurance on the property?

The buildings insurance is always the responsibility of the property owner. However It is the responsibility of the tenant to insure their contents. We do recommend to tenants that they use their preferred insurance company to cover all belongings. Tenants can pay as little as £10 per month for this and are usually keen to protect themselves. Having insurance could mean that if they do damage a property by accident they may be able to claim using their policy rather than risking their deposit.

Gas regulations

We strongly advise you to take note of the below and we ask for evidence of a GSC (Gas Safety Certificate) before we place any tenant in a property. If there is no GSC in place then we will arrange one on your behalf.

The government passed a law in November 1994 regulating the gas safety installations in all rented properties.

ALL gas appliances, including pipe work, ventilation flues, meters and additional fittings must be certified by a registered CORGI gas engineer as safe. There are no exceptions. The certification must be carried out every 12 months and is known as a Landlord gas safety certificate, or more technically a CP12.

Please remember that only a Corgi registered installer can check for the safety of appliances and installations. It is our responsibility as Letting Agents to inform you of your obligations.

Our scale of fees

Below are our principle fees. These can change depending on the amount of properties so please feel free to call us on 01843 29 93 93. We also offer management packages to clients which could mean you getting properties managed for free. (Subject to terms and conditions) Please call in office for more details.

• Full management: 10% of collected rent on a monthly basis after initial tenant finder fee.
• Let only: Four weeks rent.

Getting your property on the market

Please feel free to call us on 01843 229393 to discuss your individual property requirements. If you choose Prospects we will email or post you our instruction form. The form will ask you for the details of your property. This gives you opportunity to go through any questions you may have regarding the valuation and advertising of your property. The more information we have the quicker we can advertise and find potential tenants for you. 

Energy Performance Certificates

From 1 October 2008 all homes being let will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and recommendation report must be made available free of charge by the landlord to a prospective tenant.
Below are some answers to our most commonly asked questions,

• Q. Does the Energy Performance Certificate need completing before a property is marketed?
  A) Yes - the Certificate must be attached to the property details as supplied by the estate agent. Also proof must be provided that the legal documents and searches have been ordered by your Home Information Pack provider.
• Q. How long does the Energy Performance Certificate last for?
  A) For rented properties the EPC is valid for 10 years, so when changing tenants during this period no new EPC is required. This applies to both Private and Social Sector landlords.
• Q. What is included in the Energy Performance Certificate?
  A) An EPC will provide information on the existing energy efficiency status of your home and will also provide details of how this can be improved to reduce both carbon emissions and heating / energy costs. Dependant on the age of your property insulation grants may be available.
  The Certificate will look broadly similar to a certificate on a refrigerator. Its purpose is to record in a clear way how energy efficient the home is as a building. Using colour charts, the EPC records the ‘current rating’ and compares this with a ‘potential rating’ which the owner should ideally aim for.

Services

We offer bespoke services from full management and maintenance of your property from monthly rental collections, legal requirements and including any relevant safety certificates, refurbishments as well as dealing with any licensing should it be required. You can be assured Prospects UK are ready to take on all aspects of Property and Freehold managements.

Rental Valuations

We base our rental valuations on a number of factors and aim to secure the highest possible rental income. Your property will be valued in accordance with the current market conditions. We keep a very close eye on the ever-changing local property markets ensuring we maximise your rental yield.

We have a full list of Vetted tenants, referenced, and waiting to move. If you have a property you would like us to manage or let on your behalf please contact one of our team. We would be happy to help.