On average, if the property is in good order and being offered at the market rent, it takes us just two to three weeks to find the right tenant for you.

We offer a fully-managed landlord service or a tenant-only service.

Tenant only

A tenant-only, or find-only package, includes marketing your rental property, undertaking viewings and screening potential tenants for suitability.

We arrange for the tenancy agreement to be drafted and signed and produce inventory reports on the condition of the building.

We also arrange for the deposit to be taken and placed into a TDS LINK HERE TO THAT FAQ. Then ongoing management is handed back to you the landlord.

Fully-managed service 

A fully-managed service is a comprehensive rental management package where we undertake everything above, but then maintain that ongoing management function in a professional capacity.

We act as the main point of contact for the tenant, collect the rent on your behalf, co-ordinate repairs that might be needed, ensure your legal compliance, undertake regular inspections and arrange for eviction if that becomes necessary.

Our rates are competitive, combined with a professional approach to all aspects of our customer care.

One of our team would be happy to discuss your requirements.

All our property managers are experienced at interviewing prospective tenants to ascertain their suitability.

Tenants are also thoroughly vetted through our referencing process. A prospective tenant is asked to provide financial, employer, and landlord references and we also carry out further credit reference checks when required.

In some cases, for example if you are a first-time tenant, our property manager will advise that you need a guarantor. We would then prepare and arrange for the guarantor to sign the relevant documents.

Yes, but this may restrict the market and affect rental lead times. However, we strongly advise you to adopt a non-smoker policy in rental properties due to the adverse effect on decoration and potential fire risk.

Yes, always. Whites request between five or six weeks of advance rent if the annual rent is over £50,000. This deposit is held by us as stakeholders and registered with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

What is a tenancy deposit scheme?

A tenancy deposit scheme or TDS is a Government-backed initiative to keep a tenant’s deposit safe until the end of the tenancy, and repaid to them if they have met their tenancy agreement, so basically they have paid their rent and the property isn’t damaged.

Landlords place the money into an approved TDS within 30 days of receiving if from the tenant. Here it is protected until the tenant wants to leave the property. The deposit will then be refunded less any deductions, say for damage.  If there is disagreement about these deductions the TDS has a dispute resolution service which is free.

For tenants, the TDS provides peace of mind that their deposit is safe and that it will be returned at the end of their tenancy, and that there is an independent third party who will resolve and disputes they may have with the landlord of there are any breaches of their tenancy agreement.

For landlords, the TDS ensures legal requirements are complied with and provides a simple and cost-effective dispute resolution option if things don’t go according to plan.

You can read more here.

We arrange for tenants to pay one month’s rent in advance at the start of the tenancy and thereafter rent is paid on the first of each month.

For our fully-managed clients, our dedicated accounts manager will arrange for payment by BACS to your nominated bank or building society account on or around the 15th of each month.

A full statement is emailed monthly with rent received and copy invoices detailing any deductions, for example, contractor’s invoices, gas safety checks and so on.

In the unlikely event that your tenant doesn’t pay, if you have our fully-managed service, we will do everything to chase up payment and ascertain why the default has occurred. We will update you immediately on the situation and keep you informed.

As a let-only landlord, you will need to contact your tenant directly. If you require any advice on building insurance, including loss of rent, we have leaflets from Homelet and Rent4Sure in the office.

An assured shorthold tenancy agreement is the most common form of legal agreement for arranging a tenancy.

Under this agreement, the landlord is guaranteed the right to repossess his property at the end of the term.

Assured shorthold tenancies are usually for a fixed six-month period (term) but can be arranged for any time over three months.

In general, tenants prefer an unfurnished property. The minimum requirement is carpets, curtains, and a cooker. Other white goods are an extra maintenance liability for you and make a negligible difference to the rental of your property.

The inventory is an essential document it should provide a written and photographic benchmark at the start of each tenancy and should be amended and updated before the beginning of each new tenancy.

The inventory provides vital evidence in assisting with deposit disputes. LINK TO TDS QUESTION.

Under the terms of the Whites’ tenancy agreement, the Tenant is liable for keeping the garden neat and free from weeds.

If the garden is large or requires careful pruning, we recommend that gardening help is provided regularly. If you are fully-managed landlord, we would discuss this with you in advance to confirm ongoing arrangements.

Our fully-managed service provides you with this expertise. The tenant would report the problem to us and we contact the appropriate contractor and arrange for the work to be carried out at a mutually convenient time for all parties.

We will keep you informed of any works. If the cost is high we will contact you for authorisation.

If you are managing your own property, we advise leaving clear contact details with your tenants for any emergencies 24/7 e.g. leaking pipes.

As part of our fully-managed service, a property manager will visit your property during the first month of your tenant moving in to the property and thereafter every six months.

If there are any problems, or we suspect that a tenant is not looking after the property, then we would visit the property on a more frequent basis to monitor the situation and take any appropriate action with your agreement.

If you manage your own property, we advise you to make regular visits to ensure your property is maintained to an appropriate standard.

As part of our fully-managed service, a detailed inspection, including photographs, is carried out by our dedicated professional inventory manager at the end of the tenancy.

We will manage any disputes that arise as a result of unreasonable property damage due to the tenant.

If you are managing your property, we would strongly advise using an independent inventory professional.

Yes, a landlord’s Gas Safety Certificate is legally required for all gas on your annual safety check.

Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring that their property is let in a ‘safe condition’. We strongly recommend that an electrical safety inspection is carried out at the beginning of the first tenancy.

Yes, this is a legal requirement. You must provide smoke alarms on every floor and a CO2 detector alarm with a solid fuel source in every room.

Our fully-managed service provides you with ongoing monitoring of these devices.

Yes, before a tenant moves in there must be an energy performance certificate for most property types. A copy must be given to your tenant before they move into the property.

Landlords are required to perform a risk assessment for Legionnaire’s Disease.

HSE emphasises that testing/sampling is generally not required in domestic hot water systems and only in exceptional circumstances.

If you are part of our fully-managed service, we will assess your property during our inventory process and advise if it needs a full sample test. For more information, please click here.

We require identification to comply with Money Laundering Regulations, usually a passport/driving license and a current utility bill. These are kept on file with your signed agency agreement and landlord information sheet.

We will draw up and ask you to sign a management agreement with us, with mutually agreed terms and conditions.

Yes, you must insure your property and advise your insurance company that you intend to let the property, as this affects your type of insurance.

If you have instructed us to manage your property fully, you should also tell them that Whites are your managing agents and inform us of any specific conditions imposed by your insurer.

The tenant is responsible for insuring their contents.

Yes, we can provide a leaflet explaining what you should do.

You will need to complete the Inland Revenue NRL1 Form online.

Each party must be registered if the property is jointly owned or if any monies are paid into a joint account.

We are experienced in legal matters relating to lettings and subscribe to regular updates for all legal documents. We can advise on current legislation, draw up the tenancy agreement and issue the appropriate notice as and when required.