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15 Jackson Avenue, Culcheth, Warrington, WA3 4EJ

Lettings Services

Courtyard offers four levels of service for landlords; fully managed, fully managed plus, tenant find or rent collection, however we can tailor any package to suit your needs, just contact the office to discuss your requirements.

Viewing Arrangements

There can be nothing worse for landlords or tenants than a nervous viewing. At Courtyard, we show prospective tenants around your house; thereby avoiding all the uncomfortable situations. This way we can point out all the fabulous features of the property and the area, answer any questions and provide a relaxed environment for the viewer to enjoy your house.

Mortgaged Properties

If the property you are letting has a mortgage, then you must obtain the lenders permission before any tenancy commences. Applying after a tenant has been found may prejudice the tenant.

Leasehold Properties

Most leasehold properties require the leaseholder to obtain permission from the freeholder before letting the property. Permission should be obtained before the tenancy commences.

Landlords Insurance

In most cases, a change to your buildings insurance policy will be necessary. If the property is being let ‘part’ or ‘fully’ furnished, then we recommend that you discuss a ‘contents’ policy also. Please advise to arrange a quote.

Viewing Arrangements

Gas Safety Certificate

Keys

If your property is managed, 3 sets of keys will be required for the main entrance, so we can give the tenant(s) 2 sets and retain a ‘management set’ should we need to meet tradesmen or gain emergency access etc. in most cases, we can arrange key cutting and deduct the cost from your rent.

Gas Safety Certificate

Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, all gas appliances, flues and pipe work must be inspected by a GAS SAFE registered engineer at the start of each tenancy, and every 12 months for continuous tenancies. A copy of this report must be provided to the tenant. Please let us know if you would like us to arrange this for you.

Electrical Equipment

It is recommended that any electrical installations and appliances are inspected by a qualified electrician, as should an incident occur the landlord must be able to demonstrate that duty of care has been exercised. Therefore, it is our recommendation that you should have your installations and appliances professionally checked. Please ask for details.

Fire Regulations

The Furniture & Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989 & 1993) ensures that any upholstered furniture and furnishings at the property to be let are filled with material suitable to meet the regulations for fire resistance and are labelled confirming compliance.

Cord Safety Regulations (2014)

Professional installers must fit compliant (safe) blinds in all homes. It is now against the law to supply or install an internal window blind which does not comply with the child safety requirements. Blinds that are ‘safe by design’ are compliant with this new standard. The requirements are; to protect babies and small children, installing child safe blinds to ALL HOMES whether children are present or not, there are limitations on cord and chain lengths. Safety devices must be in place for preventing any cords or chains from creating a hazardous loop. The fitting of safety devices on cords and chains must be at the point of manufacture. All safety critical components of internal blinds must be tested with safety warnings and product instructions provided.

Tax Liability

As a landlord you are responsible for completing a Self-Assessment Tax Return at the end of each financial year. If you are a non-UK resident landlord (for example, spend more than 6 months abroad) then as your agent, we are obligated to deduct monies at the appropriate rate and hold them until we receive written approval from the Inland Revenue or until these monies are forwarded to them on a quarterly basis.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

From 1st October 2008, all new rental properties/new tenancies in England & Wales are required to have an EPC which will remain valid for ten years. Please ask if you would like us to arrange this. From April 2018 all rental properties must have an energy rating of E or above, therefore if your property does not meet this requirement you will need take steps to improve the property energy rating before renting your property out.

Lettings Packages

Tenant Finder

Preparing property details ready to market
Advertise the property on all major websites including Rightmove, Zoopla & Facebook (ensuring maximum exposure)
Carry out viewings, this includes weekends
Tenant referencing
Carry out ‘Right to Rent’ checks
Arrange necessary certificates; EPC, Gas, Electrical (see contract for charges)
Prepare tenancy agreements
Provide relevant ‘How to Rent’ checklist at the start of the tenancy and on any renewals
Key & paperwork handover (available 7 days a week)

80% of the first months rent (exclusive of vat)

96% of the first months rent (inclusive of vat)

Female friends carrying their belongings into a new apartment.

Rent Collection

Preparing property details ready to market
Advertise the property on all major websites including Rightmove, Zoopla & Facebook (ensuring maximum exposure)
Carry out viewings, this includes weekends
Tenant referencing
Carry out ‘Right to Rent’ checks
Arrange necessary certificates; EPC, Gas, Electrical (see contract for charges)
Prepare tenancy agreements
Provide relevant ‘How to Rent’ checklist at the start of the tenancy and on any renewals
Key & paperwork handover (available 7 days a week)

Once the tenancy has begun:

Collect monthly payments
Yearly statement prepared on request
Arranging gas safety certificates during the tenancy (additional charges apply)
Negotiating tenancy renewals (additional charges apply)

80% of the first months rent
7% of monthly rent (exclusive of vat)

96% of the first months rent
8.4% of monthly rent (inclusive of vat)

Fully Managed

Preparing property details ready to market
Advertise the property on all major websites including Rightmove, Zoopla & Facebook (ensuring maximum exposure)
Carry out viewings, this includes weekends
Tenant referencing
Carry out ‘Right to Rent’ checks
Arrange necessary certificates; EPC, Gas, Electrical (see contract for charges)
Prepare tenancy agreements
Provide relevant ‘How to Rent’ checklist at the start of the tenancy and on any renewals
Key & paperwork handover (available 7 days a week)

Once the tenancy has begun:

Collect monthly payments
Yearly statement prepared on request
Arranging gas safety certificates during the tenancy (additional charges apply)
Negotiating tenancy renewals (additional charges apply)
Test smoke alarms
Register the tenants deposit with an approved government scheme
Take meter readings and inform the utility companies
Inform the council that the tenant is now in residence
Provide you with a monthly statement
Arrange repair/maintenance. This includes arranging initial quotes and instruction/checking work is done to a good standard for the best price.
24 Hour emergency contact number is available to all our tenants in case of an emergency
Carryout property inspections including testing smoke alarms
Issue section 13 rent increases if requested
Service of section 21 when the landlord requires possession of the property (hand delivered)

At the end of the tenancy:

Check the property and raise any issues with the tenants
Provide quotes for any work that needs to be carried out
Negotiate any deductions from the deposit with the tenants
Arranging the release of the tenant’s deposit
Should there be a deposit dispute, we will prepare all required documents and submit this with a statutory declaration from a solicitor (An inventory will be required in order to do this)
Take meter readings and inform the utility companies
Inform the council that the tenant has left

70% of the first months rent
12% of monthly rent (exclusive of vat)

84% of the first months rent
14.4% of monthly rent (inclusive of vat)

Fully Managed Plus

Includes all of the features of the ‘Fully Managed’ package plus ‘Rent Guarantee Insurance’ in which the benefits include;

Nil excess
Up to £100,000 legal expense cover
Rent protection and recovery

Taking out a rent protection policy ensures that you will always get the income you expect and should you need legal representation to recover it, your policy can help.

70% of the first months rent
14% of monthly rent (exclusive of vat)

84% of the first months rent
16.8% of monthly rent (inclusive of vat)

Optional Extra’s

Property inspections & visits – £42.00 per visit (Inspections included with Fully Managed)
Prepare & serve rent increase notice (Section 13) – £30.00 (Included with Fully Managed)
Prepare & serve Section 21 notice – £60.00 (Included with Fully Managed)
Arrange key cutting if required – £10.00
Contract renewals – £120.00
Inventory fees – Unfurnished Property – £120.00 (including VAT), Furnished Property – £240 (including VAT)