Leading Independent Letting and Property Management Agency for Leicester & Leicestershire Villages
LANDLORDS
Do you want to Deal with a Professional & Accessible Company?
Butlin Property Services Ltd is a well established independent company that specialises in the letting and management of residential property.
A high service ethic is the key to corporate, professional and student letting. The success of our business is that we are able to offer owners of good quality investment properties a high standard, cost-effective service.
The fact that a substantial proportion of lettings are achieved by recommendation from previous tenants is evidence of our high service standards and customer orientated service.
Office Locations
Offices in the popular Clarendon Park area of Leicester and Birstall town centre.
Local Expertise
Excellent knowledge of the local property investment market.
Membership
Licensed member of ARLA the Association of Residential Letting Agents.
Qualified
Qualified staff with the expertise and experience to deal with all aspects of the management of your property Graduate managers, ARLA qualified.
Our Reputation
Established reputation with relocation agents and local companies who know we can provide a high level of service to their staff.
Extensive Portfolio
Specialised systems and strong links with local universities mean we successfully manage a substantial portfolio of student houses and apartments.
Useful Information For Landlords
Butlin Property Services is a well established independent company that specialises in the letting and management of residential property, including the management of leasehold apartments and flats.
The company delivers services from its offices in the popular Clarendon Park area of Leicester and Birstall and has an excellent knowledge of the local property investment market.
At Butlin Property Services you will deal with qualified staff with the expertise and experience to deal with all aspects of the management of your property.
Butlin Property Services have established an excellent reputation with relocation agents and local companies who know we can provide a high level of service to their staff.
Butlin Property Services manage a substantial portfolio of student houses and apartments and have strong links with the local universities.
A high service ethic is the key to corporate, professional and student letting. The success of our business is that we are able to offer owners of good quality investment properties a high standard, cost-effective service.
The fact that a substantial proportion of lettings are achieved by recommendation from previous tenants is evidence of our high service standards and customer orientated service.
Firstly, all parties registered on the title deeds must agree and sign the Tenancy Agreement. It is also essential that you gain written permission from your mortgage provider to let your property (if the property is leasehold, permission from the Freeholder or Head Lease must be sought).
It will also be a requirement from your insurers that you gain permission to rent under any existing policies. You are responsible for the building insurance and contents where applicable.
Legislation now requires all properties to have an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) which will last 10 years but has to be in place before a property can be marketed to let. Butlin Property Services can arrange for a Domestic Energy Assessor to prepare an EPC.
Ideally you should have a telephone line available to the property for connection by the tenant(s) and provide a television aerial capable of receiving a terrestrial signal. It is important to leave all relevant operational instructions and manuals for appliances, which can avoid accidents or misuse by tenants.
PROFESSIONAL/DEEP CLEAN
People often have different views on how clean a property is, so at Butlin Property Services we try to remove any potential dispute by recommending that landlords have their property professionally deep cleaned (to include appliances) before tenants move in.
When letting your property for the first time, by arranging a deep/professional clean, the property can then be presented to all future tenants in immaculate condition. If a professional clean certificate is produced at the start of a tenancy and the tenant(s) (and in turn any future tenants) do not return the property in a professionally clean condition, a deduction can be made from their deposit in order to return the property to pristine condition ready for any new tenants. A similar approach can be made with gardens, whereby a gardener’s certificate is presented at the beginning of a tenancy.
FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED
In general this decision does not affect the rental income, which is influenced more on the location and size of the property. All properties should at least have floor coverings (where applicable), curtains or blinds and a compliant cooker.
TOP TIPS FOR PRESENTATION
Choose neutral colours for decoration, such as magnolia or cream
Carpets, curtains and furnishings should be neutral or muted colours, and able to stand wear and tear
Kitchens and bathrooms need to be well equipped
Lighting is important and in modern apartments the latest styles are usually appropriate
Gardens should be neat and well maintained
Prior to letting a professional clean is recommended, including all windows
GAS SAFETY (INSTALLATIONS AND USE) REGULATIONS 1998
Where gas is provided to a property, both mains and liquid gas, the regulations require appliances and flues to be serviced every 12 months and the issue of a Landlords Gas Safety Certificate, renewed annually, by an authorised and registered Gas Safe engineer. A copy of the certificate must be provided to the tenant within 28 days of date of issue.
A tenant cannot be allowed into the property without a copy of a valid certificate. For managed properties we will automatically arrange renewals.
Rent Collect clients will be advised of the renewal date and our intention to instruct an engineer at their cost, unless we hear to the contrary.
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (SAFETY ) REGULATIONS 1994
Whilst there is no statutory regulation for periodic safety inspections, it is the landlord’s legal responsibility to ensure the property is ‘safe’ for lettings purpose. We therefore strongly recommend that the mains supply is checked at the start of the lettings process and thereafter as recommended by a qualified electrical engineer.
It is also important that all portable appliances in a rental property be fitted with an appropriate plug (BS1363) and we recommend they are tested periodically by a qualified electrical engineer.
FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS (FIRE) (SAFETY) REGULATIONS 1988 (AS AMENDED)
Any soft furnishing left in a let property must comply with the above regulations. Generally soft furnishing manufactured after March 1990 will comply although must have the relevant fire resistant/retardant labels attached. Any unlabelled furniture is deemed non-compliant (unless it is antique horsehair filled and has not been reupholstered).
SMOKE DETECTORS
All new houses built since June 1992 must be fitted with mains operated detectors on each floor; it is strongly recommended in all other properties that detectors conforming to BS5446 part 1 are attached to each floor and checked regularly.
CARBON MONOXIDE
Landlords have a duty of care to ensure the regular maintenance and repair of oil fired or solid fuel heating systems and that adequate flues and ventilation are provided. It is also highly recommended to have a CO alarm fitted.
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE
(EPC)
Since October 2008 it has been a legal requirement for an EPC assessment on all rental properties, the certificate has to be in place prior to marketing, will last for 10 years and is transferable to Home Information Packs.
DISCRIMINATION
The Disability Discrimination Act of 2005 requires landlords to be receptive to requests to make reasonable adjustments to their accommodation to facilitate easier living. The code of practice does not impose legal obligations but provides helpful information.
As with all other areas of society, discrimination on the grounds of race, religion or sexuality is illegal.
The landlord is responsible for both buildings insurance, and contents insurance for those items supplied by the landlord.
Your tenants are responsible for arranging insurance cover on their personal belongings only.
UK Landlord Insurance Services, a trading name of Butlin Property Services, has arranged a Block policy for landlords Buildings and Contents Insurance with one of the leading insurance companies.
The block policy includes large portfolio investors and leasehold apartments and commercial premises. It has therefore been possible to negotiate substantial discount on the standard premium rates on behalf of our clients.
All properties on the block policy will benefit from comprehensive insurance cover.
Full details of the policy are available online at: www.landlordinsurance.uk.net