Landlord Guide

Thank you for considering Sean Heaney Lettings for the rental of your property. We offer a professional and comprehensive lettings service.

With extensive knowledge of the local area we aim to provide a premium service to meet the needs of landlords. We pride ourselves on an excellent level of regular communication offering feedback and advice.

The first step is to provide you with a valuation for your property in the rental market. We can also offer advice on standards of presentation, quality of fittings, range of appliances (i.e. washing machine, cooker, dishwashers etc). To attract the right tenant your standards need to be high and a well maintained property will increase your chances of finding a good tenant and achieving the optimum rent.

We will discuss with you what you would like in a tenant e.g. professional couple, non smoker, no pets etc

Once you are happy that you would like Sean Heaney Lettings to handle your property, you will be asked to complete our ‘Terms and Conditions’. Your property will now be included on our availability lists and we will commence marketing. You will then be asked to pay landlord fees.

Marketing:

We will market your property through a variety of media including various internet portals like ‘RightMove’. Your property will be displayed on our own website. Sean Heaney Lettings advertise in the local press regularly.

Finding a Tenant:

We will seek a suitable tenant for your property. Because we seek the highest calibre tenants, we employ a specialist company to obtain references and detailed credit history.

We will arrange viewings at your property and are happy to escort prospective tenants where necessary.

Tenancy:

Once terms have been agreed, you will be asked to sign a Tenancy Agreement, as will the tenant. Tenants will be checked in at the start of a tenancy.

Deposit:

We collect the deposit on your behalf and administer the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. At the termination of the tenancy we will refund or apportion the deposit as agreed by you and the tenant.

It is possible for us to receive rents on your behalf, organise for gas and electrical installation safety certification and Energy Performance certificates. We can check tenants in and out and arrange for inventories to be done.

Legal and Safety Requirements:

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1993

The above regulations were amended in 1993 and set new levels of fire resistance for domestic upholstered furniture and furnishings. It is an offence to 'supply' in the course of business any furniture which does not comply with the regulations. This includes supplying furniture as part of a residential property to be let.

The regulations apply to; sofas, beds, bed-heads, childrens' furniture, garden furniture suitable for use in a dwelling, scatter cushions and pillows, stretch or loose covers for furniture or other similar items. The regulations do not apply to: curtains, carpets, bedclothes (including duvets and mattress covers).

Any furniture manufactured after March 1990 is likely to comply, but if the appropriate labels are not on the furniture, compliance is in doubt and checks should be made with the manufacturer.

The Gas Safety (installation and use) Regulations 1998

These regulations first came into effect 31st October 1994 to ensure that gas appliances are properly installed and maintained in a safe condition so as to avoid the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is the responsibility of landlords to ensure that ALL gas appliances and gas installation pipe work owned by them are checked for safety at least once a year by British Gas or a Gas Safe registered installer. In addition accurate records of the safety inspections and any work carried out must be kept. The current safety certificate must always be available for any tenant prior to them taking occupation of a property.

Faulty equipment can lead to death and a conviction of unlawful killing on a landlord. Under the regulations any appliance that does not conform can be disconnected.

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) regulations 1994

The above regulations impose an obligation on a landlord to ensure that all electrical appliances left as part of a let property are safe. Cabling, fuses and plugs should also be inspected and replaced where necessary to the correct rating for that particular appliance.

Other legislation covering electrical installations is currently in force and we strongly recommend that all appliances are regularly checked and serviced.

The Building Regulations 1991 - Smoke Alarms

The 1991 Building Regulations require that all properties built since June 1992 must be fitted with mains operated interlinked smoke detectors/alarms on each floor. Such regulations regarding older properties do not exist but we strongly recommend that smoke alarms are fitted in all let properties and are regularly checked to ensure they are in full working order.

Consent To Let

If you have a mortgage you must obtain consent from your mortgage lender. If your interest in the property is leasehold your lease may require you to obtain consent from your landlord prior to sub letting.

Insurance

Standard home owner insurance may well be invalidated when you let your property. It is important that you speak to your insurance company to ensure you are adequately covered.

Tenancy Agreement

It is a requirement for landlords to sign their own tenancy agreement. Therefore it is important that we are given clear instructions regarding the length of time the property will be available and that we have a contact address and telephone and fax number in order that the document may be forwarded for signature prior to any tenancy.

Feedback or Complaints

We welcome feedback that may help us improve our service. Positive feedback or constructive criticism can prove valuable to us as we aim to offer a service valued by both Landlords and Tenants.

We hope that you are pleased with the service you have received but if you are unhappy with any aspect and wish to make a complaint, you are invited to contact the individual member of staff concerned or should you rather, please contact the department manager. If the response from the department manager is not satisfactory you can pursue the matter by contacting the Director.

If we fail to resolve the matter to your satisfaction, you will be given the opportunity to refer the matter to The Property Ombudsman (TPO).

Landlord fees

Let Only Fee @ 7% to include:

  • Initial marketing
  • Viewings and negotiation with prospective tenants
  • Collection and remittance of initial month's rent received
  • Registration of Deposit with The Deposit Protection Scheme
  • Preparation of Tenancy Agreement
  • Contribution toward the Check In/Inventory/Check Out fee (dependent on size of property: 1 bed £126, 2 bed £144, 3 bed £174, 4 bed £205, 5 bed £240 inc VAT)

If you have any questions on our fees, please ask a member of our team.