Lettings
We at Crown Property Management are constantly striving to meet your demands.
You expect the best service, commitment and results.
We are committed to delivering these results.
As soon as your property is registered with Crown Property Management the system immediately starts to seek suitable tenants and thus our management begins.
The full management service includes, vetting of tenants, drawing up tenancy agreements, compiling inventories, dealing with all administration, property inspections, collection of rent, advice on current regulations and full peace of mind you require. Your property will be displayed in our office window and on our website within hours of instruction.
Please find below our landlords guide to lettings and should you have any queries or wish to view our company Terms & Conditions please do not hesitate in contacting us.
The Benefits of Letting.
Whatever your reasons for letting, the private rental sector has never been more attractive. Recent legislative changes have removed many of the uncertainties associated with lettings so that possession of your property at the end of the letting period is now much easier.
The financial returns for letting your property have significantly improved due to the ability to offset most costs associated with lettings against rental income for tax purposes. Letting a property can provide both income and capital growth.
The demand for rental properties in Torbay has never been stronger thus ensuring you have minimal periods when your property remains un-let.
The Tenancy Agreement.
Crown Property Management will prepare an assured short-hold tenancy agreement for you. This tenancy agreement entitles the landlord to gain possession of the property at the end of the fixed term as long as the required notices are served. The assured short-hold tenancy agreement details the area of responsibility between you and your tenant and of course us as the agent. Crown Property Management will be responsible for obtaining signatures for the tenancy agreements as well as for serving such notices. Our tenancy agreements are for a minimum of six months. The tenancy will then run on a periodic basis.
Deposits.
Deposits paid will be registered with the DPS Scheme in accordance with current legislation.
EPC Certificates.
All new properties offered for letting will need a valid Energy Performance Certificate prior to tenants moving in. The certificate will be valid for 10 years. We can easily arrange this at a very competitive cost.
Property Assessment.
The location, condition and size of the property are key factors which must be considered. Our qualified staff are happy to visit the property to carry out an initial inspection to then discuss rental value and any relevant issues in greater detail. This will enable you to ask any questions or discuss any particular concerns you may have. This service is provided free and with no obligation.
Furnished or Unfurnished?
The demand for unfurnished properties in today's rental market is higher although all properties ideally should include carpets and curtains. Should you wish to let your property on a furnished basis then you must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amended) Regulations 1993, which requires all upholstered furniture and furnishings in rented properties to pass the 'cigarette test'. Basically, most furniture purchased from reputable suppliers after March 1993 should comply with regulations and will be labelled accordingly. Firm information on this important issue is outlined in our standard Terms & Conditions.
Gas Safety Regulations.
As the landlord you must ensure that gas appliances are maintained in good order and checked for safety at least every twelve months by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer and must supply Crown Property Management with the landlord's gas safety report, which in turn we shall send a copy onto your tenant. As managing agents and to protect your interests we reserve the right to call in a Gas Safe registered contractor and make the appropriate charge from funds held. Please understand that we take a clear stance in this matter and we are unable to accept or retain any properties on our books unless a gas report (if applicable) has been done. Information on this important issue is outlined in our standard Terms & Conditions.
Electrical Safety.
The landlord is responsible for ensuring that all electric appliances supplied in the accommodation must be safe to use. We are happy to arrange for an electrical inspection to be carried out on your behalf.
Smoke Detectors.
The law requires all new houses built since 1992 have mains operated smoke detectors installed on each floor. We strongly recommend that mains wired smoke detectors be installed on each floor of all rental properties.
Inventory.
Many landlords seek to cut costs by preparing their own inventory, but this is a false economy as homemade inventory's rarely provide enough detail for the condition of the property and its contents thus making accurate assessment of the damage at the end of the tenancy very difficult. This could result in financial loss for the landlord as the most contentious and litigious problems between landlords and tenants is the cost of the damage or the condition of the property then it is our advice that Crown Property Management undertakes the inventory. Even if the property is unfurnished our inventories are detailed and comprehensive. Dilapidations can be very expensive, and the interior décor must be properly documented otherwise you will be unable to claim recompense for any damages at the end of the tenancy. Obviously, the property will not look exactly the same at the end of the tenancy but must be accepted as normal part of the transaction. It is worth knowing that the Inland Revenue normally allow a 'fair wear' deduction when assessing income tax liability.
And finally... it is worth remembering that with many years of experience in the letting industry very few tenancies actually become a problem if certain management procedures are adhered to.