At Hurst, we provide a range of letting and property management services supported by our team of experienced, local, property professionals. After three decades in the lettings market you can be assured that we have a detailed understanding of the lettings and property management sector and will ensure that you are given the best possible advice and service.
Over the last few years with stock markets proving more volatile and pensions low yielding there has been resurgence in the lettings market especially to first time landlords. People from all walks of life are looking to become involved in the 'buy to let' investment market and with the credit crunch still ensuring tenants are at an all time high, there really has never been a better time to invest.
As a sales and lettings agent we are in a perfect position to advise you on both what you should be looking to buy, as in location, type of property and what rental yields you can expect. To register your details with our sales team CLICK HERE.
If you require advice on properties you have viewed or are viewing, please contact our lettings team in your area and they will be happy to go through rental yields and market conditions prior to you agreeing to purchase. To contact us CLICK HERE.
If you already own a property and would like to know more then we can arrange for a lettings valuer to come and carry out a FREE, NO OBLIGATION valuation of your property. The valuers can provide advice on all aspects of letting at this visit along with comparable evidence to support the figures given. To book a valuation of your property CLICK HERE.
Landlord's guide to renting a property
Valuation
The first step for most people is to understand the true value of the property they wish to let, its individual strengths and the likely timescales they may be looking at based on current market performance. At Hurst our locally based, experienced property valuers offer a free, no obligation factual and accurate appraisal of the current market value of your property. We will also advise on compliance and legislation issues and any preparation that may be required prior to letting. To book your free valuation simply CLICK HERE.
Instructing The Agent
With the valuation completed you are now in a position to instruct us to market the property whether that be now or in the future. Once you verify your desire to go ahead the valuer will organise an appointment with you to professionally photograph your property, walk you through all the necessary paperwork, regulatory requirements and our marketing agreement. Bearing in mind the importance of presentation, we will give you the guidance, if necessary, on how to present each room to ensure our wide angle camera captures and present your property at its very best.
Marketing
Once you have instructed us by signing our marketing agreement and we have taken photographs, you will then be in a position to receive prospective tenants. Appointments to view your property are all accompanied by one of our trained negotiators, taking the focus off of you and onto the property.As established estate agents we always have an extensive list of tenants that we will present your property to immediately, so viewings can, and often do, occur very quickly after instructions are received. Our marketing is both professional and extensive and listed below are just a few examples of the type of marketing and coverage we offer:-
Property Showrooms– Still today we find that the majority of tenants when ready to rent will make the effort to come and visit us to discuss their property requirements.We ensure our clients properties stand out from the competition by working from accessible, prominent, centrally located premises in all the catchment areas.
Websites– The moment your details are prepared they will be uploaded to the internet and visible to all online tenants immediately. We are on over 20 websites including the three biggest Rightmove, Zoopla and Prime Location.
Newspaper Advertising– We provide regular, prominent advertisements across The Chilterns in the Bucks Herald and Bucks Free Press newspapers.
To Let Board- This is the most traditional, simple and effective marketing tool ensuring marketing to all tenants that are active in your immediate area 24 hours a Day.
Feedback– We pride ourselves on our conscientious sales management and will keep you regularly appraised of property's performance in the market place.We will also relay as promptly as possible the feedback from potential tenants who have viewed your property.
Offers– All offers we receive will be promptly relayed to you. Our trained negotiators working on your behalf will then help guide and advise you as to the way forward with a view to always achieving for you, our client, the strongest tenant at the best possible price.
Let Agreed– Once a price has been agreed we will take a a holding deposit from the tenant and get them to complete and sign a Tenancy Application form. We provide a full after let service and will therefore now begin chasing through the transaction and advising you and the tenants of the relevant steps you need to take and give guidance and advice where appropriate.The let at this stage is still subject to satisfactory references and credit score conducted via Rent4Sure an outsourced referencing agent.
Inventory–We advise all of our landlords to allow us to organise our outsourced inventory company Hinch Property Management Services Ltd to produce a comprehensive inventory, including photography, in order to professionally document the exact condition of the property at the start of the tenancy. This is critical as deposits are held in protected schemes which require evidence based reports in order to find in a landlords favour if dilapidations occur. This is a one off charge, as they are updated for free at the end of each subsequent tenancy.
Referencing
We are always trying to find the strongest tenants and to this end all our tenants are comprehensively referenced. There are generally three types of references that we undertake and they are as follows:
1. Credit Check – This is carried out on our behalf by Rent4sure and will look into the tenants past addresses and credit history. The results of which determine whether they are considered eligible to rent the property.
2. Employment Reference – We will write to their existing employer asking for confirmation of their employment, length of service and current salary.
3. Landlord/Agent Reference – If they are currently renting a property we will write to their existing landlord/letting agent asking for confirmation of current monthly rent, if the property has been well maintained and that the rent has been paid on time consistently.
Tenancy Agreement
This is the legally binding agreement containing all ongoing terms and conditions that will exist for the duration of the tenancy. This will be sent/emailed over to you for approval and signature (subject to your tenant passing referencing). Following this an appointment will be arranged for your tenant to visit our offices and sign this endorsed Tenancy Agreement.
Rent and Deposit
Your tenant will be required to provide the agreed sum of rent and deposit before taking possession of the property. Rent is to be paid monthly in advance, commencing on the first day of the tenancy and then on the same day each month thereafter by bank account standing order.
The deposit is held for the full tenancy against loss, damage or charges payable at the termination of the tenancy. Whilst this is usually the equivalent of five weeks rent. As members of the Deposit Protection Service all security deposits are sent away and held in accordance with Financial Conduct Authority client money regulations. It is returnable at the end of the tenancy subject to final inspection of the property. If a tenant does not agree with the findings of the check out they can put the deposit into dispute with the Deposit Protection Service. It is at this point the independent inventory becomes invaluable in securing any claim in your favour.
Click here to view our Client Money Protection certificate.
Check In
Our external contractors Hinch will arrange to meet your tenant at the property, go through the inventory with them, take meter readings and check them in. Congratulations, your property is now officially Let.
Landlord Fees
Industry Regulations
Hurst Estate Agents LLP is a member of The Property Ombudsman (TPO) and we abide by their codes of practice for both sales and lettings. More information about TPO can be found at www.tpos.co.uk
Hurst Estate Agents LLP is a member of Client Money Protect and their certificate can be found here.
