We understand that two of the most important requirements for Landlords are achieving strong rental income and finding the right tenants as quickly as possible. We know from measuring our performance that we excel in these areas.
Professional photography is a crucial part of marketing a property.
Everything from lighting and positioning to staging and post production has to be perfect and capture your home in the best possible way.
Our head of photography Andy Sturmey is a qualified member of the British Institute of Professional photography (BIPP) and leads our brilliant photography team.
From newspapers to magazines, websites to property portals and prominently located offices, we market your property in Brighton & Hove’s most popular property pages and lifestyle magazines, as well as the UK’s most popular property websites.
We’ll make sure your property is seen by the right buyers through targeted, eye-catching advertising, showcasing your property in the best light.
- Advice on property rental value
- Rightmove & onthemarket.com advertising
- Advertise on brandvaughan.co.uk
- Accompany viewings with prospective tenants
- Provide viewing feedback
- Reference checking, proof of funds/employment & credit checks
- Prepare tenancy agreements (optional)
- Prepare inventory & schedule of condition
- Arrange EPC with free floorplan
MANAGED
everything in tenant introduction service plus…
- Accompany tenants on moving in day
- Arrange annual inspections
- Register tenants deposit (optional)
- Collect rent & pass on to you same day
- Online account access
- Send renewal/termination notices at tenancy end
- Release deposits (optional)
- Update you on legislation changes
MANAGED
everything in tenant introduction & part manged services plus…
- Register tenants deposits (included)
- 24/7 emergency call out for tenant issues
- Arrange any repairs / maintenance
- Handle any insurance claims
- Carry our periodic inspections
- Carry out end of tenancy checkout
- Release deposits (included)
As a Landlord you have certain responsibilities for your Tenants and there are various legislative areas that will likely apply to you and your property at some point during the letting process.
It is important to ensure that you and your property comply with all relevant legislation for your Tenants safety and of course to protect your interests.
Landlords Gas and Electrical Safety Regulations
All gas appliances, meters and pipework must be inspected and certificated by a GasSafe contractor every twelve months – the ‘Landlords Gas Safety Certificate’. A copy of this must be provided to tenants.
You must also ensure that all electrical installations and equipment are safe and if any portable appliances are supplied, these will be need to be PAT tested every twelve months. There are additional requirements for HMO licensed property.
We can of course instruct our recommended contractors to carry out required inspections for you at short notice and competitive rates.
Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
From October 2015 new legislation took effect for ALL rental properties in England and Wales. The key areas to note are that smoke alarms are now required on EVERY FLOOR of every rental property with habitable rooms, even where these rooms are bathrooms or storage.
Additionally, a carbon monoxide detector is required in any room in a rental property where solid fuel is burned. Solid fuel under these definitions does not include gas.
Furniture Fire Safety
All furniture and soft furnishings must be maintained in a safe condition and comply with the appropriate regulations. We will be happy to check any furniture that you intend to supply with the property to verify compliance.
HMO Licensing
There are two separate schemes for HMO licensing in Brighton & Hove, the National & Additional schemes.
In summary, where a property is let to three or more ‘households’ (read unrelated persons) it may require an HMO license. As well as requiring inspection and approval by the local authority, changes will likely need to be made in terms of layout and additional fire precautions.
This is a complicated area and we provide plenty of detail on our website at brandvaughan.co.uk/hmo. One of our Consultants will be happy to explain the scheme in more detail and discuss the implications for you and your property.
HMO Licensing
There are two separate schemes for HMO licensing in Brighton & Hove, the National & Additional schemes.
In summary, where a property is let to three or more ‘households’ (read unrelated persons) it may require an HMO license. As well as requiring inspection and approval by the local authority, changes will likely need to be made in terms of layout and additional fire precautions.
This is a complicated area and we provide plenty of detail on our website at brandvaughan.co.uk/hmo. One of our Consultants will be happy to explain the scheme in more detail and discuss the implications for you and your property.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
You must have an EPC in place before marketing commences on your property and before any tenancy is entered into. The EPC provides a measure of the energy efficiency of a property.
We can arrange this for you at competitive rates and will display the relevant information on our marketing materials and provide written copies to your Tenant prior to signing a tenancy. What’s more, our EPC comes with a free floorplan, enabling prospective tenants to better understand the shape, size and layout of the property.
Tenancy Deposit Protection
Deposits must be protected in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. You need to provide your tenant with the details and any ‘prescribed information’ within 30 days of the start of the tenancy.
If you are a Part or Fully Managed client we will make all the necessary arrangement to ensure you are compliant with the scheme.
Insurance
It is vital that your property buildings and any contents are properly insured to protect your investment and belongings.
Most ordinary home insurance products do not cover rented properties so it is important to have the appropriate insurance in place for letting a property.
Without the correct insurance you may not be able to claim and could face serious financial losses.
Tax
It is vital that your property buildings and any contents are properly insured to protect your investment and belongings.
Most ordinary home insurance products do not cover rented properties so it is important to have the appropriate insurance in place for letting a property.
Without the correct insurance you may not be able to claim and could face serious financial losses.
As a Landlord you have certain responsibilities for your Tenants and there are various legislative areas that will likely apply to you and your property at some point during the letting process. It is important to ensure that you and your property comply with all relevant legislation for your Tenants safety and of course to protect your interests.
introduction
2.4 weeks of rent (inc VAT)
• Market property
• Professional photography
• Accompany viewings
• Provide feedback
• Negotiate tenancy terms, arrange tenancy*
• Compile and check references*
• Obtain proof of employment or funds*
• Carry out credit checks*
• Prepare the tenancy agreements and progress to the onset of the new tenancy*
• Collect and forward initial months’ rent and deposit received
• Provide tenant with method of payment
*additional fee applies, see below
rent collected
10% of rent (Inc VAT)
INCLUDES the same as our Introduction services PLUS the following:
• Collect and forward monthly rent
• Supply monthly statements and a log-in to check account on our website
• Pursue non-payment of rent and provide advice on rent arrears actions
• Send renewal or termination notices at the end of the tenancy
• Renew annual safety certifications for gas installation
• Update on legislation changes
• Review rent in accordance with current prevailing market condition
• Send renewal or termination notices to tenants
fully managed
14.4% of rent (Inc VAT)
INCLUDES the same as our other two services PLUS the following:
• Handle problems or questions from tenants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Arrange any maintenance or repairs necessary, using professional and trusted local contractors
• Carry out regular property inspections, complete with written report (where appropriate)
• Handle any insurance claims
• Hold keys throughout the tenancy term
• Complete a thorough check-out inspection as an independent view on any damages or dilapidations
• Arrange any cleaning or maintenance at the end of the tenancy
additional non-optional fees and charges (irrespective of level of service)
set up fee: £120 inc vat
• Agree the market rent and find a tenant in accordance with the landlord guidelines;
• Advise on refurbishment
• Provide guidance on compliance with statutory provisions and letting consents
• Carry out accompanied viewings
• Market the property and advertise on relevant portals
• Advise on non-resident tax status and HMRC (if relevant)
• Referencing, credit checks and right to rent checks: £45.00 per application processed
• Inventory & Check in fee
• Dependent on the number of bedrooms and/or size of the property and outbuildings
additional non-optional fees and charges (for rent collection and fully managed service)
Deposit Registration Fee: £48.00 (inc vat) per annum
• Register landlord and tenant details and protect the security deposit with a Government-authorised Scheme
• Provide the tenant(s) with the Deposit Certificate and Prescribed Information within 30 days of start of tenancy
Renewal Fee: £96.00 (inc VAT)
• Contract negotiation, amending and updating terms and arranging a further tenancy and agreement
Checkout Fee: £90.00 (inc VAT)
• To include arrangement of third party professional check out inspection with full photographic report, liaison with tenants regarding proposed charges and deduction.
what reassurance do I have that Brand Vaughan complies with standard codes of conduct?
We’re members of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and therefore abide by their membership rules and strict Code of Practice.
We’re also members of The Property Ombudsman (formerly known as the Ombudsman for Estate Agents / OEA), and have done so voluntarily, long before it was compulsory to do so. Again, TPO ensure that members maintain strict Codes of Practice, and provide a comprehensive redress scheme for Landlords and Tenants against agents, should things go wrong.
how long will it take to let my property?
Although things vary at different times of year, broadly speaking it usually takes between two and four weeks to find and place a tenant, which would normally include our carrying out the necessary referencing, credit checks and inventory.
what insurance do i need?
You will of course need to make sure that your property is properly insured with buildings insurance, and where appropriate we advise you to let your insurer know that your property is to be let – otherwise if the worst happens you may find you will not be covered.
You may also want to make sure that any furnishings and fittings are insured with adequate contents insurance, depending on their value. Again talk to your current insurance provider
how do you protect the tenancy deposit?
As registered agents with the NAEA and ARLA, Brand Vaughan fulfil the membership criteria for The Dispute Service (TDS) – one of the insurance-based deposit schemes.
Each time a Tenancy Deposit is taken and held by Brand Vaughan, we will register it with the TDS and provide a protection certificate. By doing so you will have fulfilled your legal obligation to your tenants.
If you decide that you want to use out Tenant Introduction Service, the deposit will be forwarded to you. It is vital that you ensure that you protect the Tenants deposit with one of the deposit schemes – please contact us if you require any further information
what if agreement cannot be reached about the deposit allocation?
In the unlikely event that agreement cannot be reached between parties as to how the Tenancy Deposit should be treated at the end of a tenancy, TDS operate an independent adjudication service.
After our providing the scheme with evidence of any claim, the case will be reviewed and a final decision will be made. By law all disputed deposits have to be dealt with in this way.
what happens at the end of the tenancy?
When the end of the tenancy approaches, we start our renewals procedure to allow plenty of time for you and the tenants to decide whether you will be renewing the tenancy, whether we will begin remarketing the property for new tenants, or perhaps make plans for you to move back in.
Whatever the situation, the procedures that we have in place always facilitate a smooth and uncostly solution.
does the landlord pay a fee to renew the tenancy?
There is a small administration charge of £36 inclusive of VAT for the landlord if they decide to renew the tenancy.
