Yes, we belong to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).
Our standard fee for residential properties is 12% incl. VAT (10% plus VAT) for fully managed and £450 incl. VAT (£375 plus VAT) for tenant find only. The management fee is deducted monthly from the rent we collect. The tenant find fee is payable in a lump sum once we receive the first month’s rent. Student fully managed service is 13.2% incl. VAT of the rent and £610 incl. VAT as a finders service. Please contact this office if you wish to discuss any queries with fees.
You should always inform your mortgage company if you are planning to let your property.
You are responsible for buildings insurance as well as appropriate contents insurance. Tenants arrange their own contents insurance.
No, we can still manage your property even when you are abroad. However, there are tax implications that you should check with Inland Revenue.
An Energy Performance Certificate is a certified assessment of a property’s energy efficiency. Once issued, it is valid for 10 years. EPCs are undertaken by qualified Energy Performance Assessors - Leamans can recommend an independent assessor. You are liable for the assessor’s fee.
Gas boilers and any other gas appliances need an annual Landlord Gas Safety Check. White goods (not integral appliances) need an annual Portable Appliance Test (PAT). Landlords and agents need to know that electrics are safe so Leamans insist on a Periodic Report to be undertaken every five years by a qualified electrician. We will arrange all the necessary safety checks and arrange the annual re-inspections on our managed properties.
We advise that all properties are fitted with at least one smoke detector and a heat detector. Carbon monoxide detectors are optional but highly recommended.
The majority of lets are unfurnished. However, this would still include white goods, window dressings, light shades and floor coverings.
We advertise on our own website, in our stylish window display, on ‘To Let’ boards and on national property website Zoopla. This is all included in our set up fee.
No, Leamans staff will accompany tenants to all viewings.
Yes, we offer a Tenant Find service – this will handle the lettings process from initial advertising up until the keys are handed over.
Leamans’ referencing team interviews all prospective tenants and carries out a thorough referencing check, including a credit check and collecting employer and landlord references.
A six-month Assured Shorthold Tenancy. This automatically becomes a Periodic Tenancy after the initial period.
We can stipulate this when assessing applicants and there will be a relevant clause in the tenancy agreement stating that no pets or children are to reside at the property.
The tenant is responsible for all utilities and council tax.
We want to take as much stress out of lettings as we can. If you decide to use our Full Management Service, the tenants will always contact us with any issues they may have and we shall deal with any problems. If a major or potentially costly problem arises, we will always contact you first.
We undertake an initial visit four to six weeks after a move in, and then every three to four months.
Rent is collected monthly in advance. We will pay your rent into your specified account by BACS and you will receive a monthly statement of account.
We check that rent is being paid on time and will advise on necessary action, including court action, if it is not. We will also prepare documentation to support such action.
The deposit is held in a designated Leamans Client Deposit Account with Lloyds Bank. Our deposits are registered with The Dispute Service.
We have numerous contractors on our books, all of which are independent from Leamans. We take no commission on contractors’ invoices.
Yes, we will use your preferred contractors unless we are unable to contact them in the event of an emergency.
During the initial six-month assured period, you can serve tenants two months’ notice at the end of month four, thus ending the tenancy at the end of month six.
Thereafter, two months’ notice must be served, with the tenancy always ending on a rental due date.
We carry out a ‘check out’ inspection the next working day after the tenant leaves. A claim will be made against the deposit if there is damage or if excessive cleaning is required.
If there is a dispute we will do our best to resolve the issue by liaising with you and the tenant. If an agreement cannot be reached it will be referred to arbitration via the deposit scheme. There may be a charge for the additional work that this creates.
