Swift Moves Washington Ltd is now an established member of the Letting Industry, looking after properties in Washington and North East Areas.
We offer an extensive range of services which can be tailored to suit your individual needs. Enclosed are details of these services along with our fee structure, which you will find is very competitive.
We offer a ‘no obligation’ property visit which includes a rental valuation and the opportunity to discuss the service we could provide for you.
Full Management Service
Marketing
- Professional advice on presentation of your property for marketing purposes, including advice on furnishings and décor
- Take photographs for advertising use
- Comprehensive marketing via the internet on our website and other affiliated sites
- Colour advert placed in our shop window
- Colour advert in shop window in Washington Galleries
- Slideshow presentation for using Expert Agent software
- New properties will be the featured property on our website, www.swiftmoves.net
- Erection and removal of ‘TO LET’ board
Tenant Selection
- Carry out viewings of the property with prospective tenants including Saturday if necessary
- Vet tenants through a recognised credit agency
- Carry out informal tenant interviews
- Check tenant references from previous landlords and employers where applicable
- Check tenant personal references
- Check guarantor references if required
Property Management
- Provide point of contact for all tenant queries
- Draw up a detailed inventory of all moveable furnishings and record condition of flooring, décor and garden/grounds
- Provide a property specific welcome pack for new tenants
- Arrange statutory Landlord Gas Safety Certificate
- Arrange statutory Energy Performance Certificate
- Arrange Electrical Safety Certificate if needed for Licensed properties
- Agree inventory and meter reading with incoming and outgoing tenants
- Arrange with contractors for maintenance works to be carried out once quotes have been agreed with landlord
- Inspecting property on tenant moving out checking inventory items etc
- Carry out regular inspection visits to properties
- Provide 24 hour emergency contact for all tenants at no charge to tenant or landlord
Legal Management
- Negotiate mutually acceptable terms of Tenancy Agreement
- Provide legally binding documents for Tenancy Agreement
- Collect a security deposit usually equal to one months rent for forwarding to Landlord to have deposited into DPS Scheme
- Collect rents from tenants
- Monitor tenancy agreement renewals and extensions
- Ensure correct legal procedure is followed to end tenancy agreements
- Prepare detailed monthly landlord statement and invoice
Letting Only Service
This service includes all of the services detailed in Tenant Selection:
- Erection of To Let Board
- Property advertised on www.swiftmoves.net , www.rightmove.co.uk, and www.expertagent.co.uk
- Advertisement of property in our office
- Inclusion on our Expert Agent screen display
- Legal Service provided would be as follows:-
- Negotiate mutually acceptable terms of Tenancy Agreement
- Provide legally binding documents for Tenancy Agreement
- Carry out check-in of tenants
- Collect security deposit and advance rental from tenant and transfer to client for deposit into DPS Scheme
Advice to Landlords
Preparing your Property for Letting
- Ensure the property is thoroughly cleaned
- Ensure the décor is fresh
- Pick neutral colour schemes
- Ensure floor coverings are in good condition
- Supply instruction manuals/guarantees for appliances where possible
- General maintenance should be to a good standard
- Provide any information which is relevant to tenants ie, refuse collection
Furnishing Your Property
Generally speaking less is more. Keep furniture and furnishings simple in design and colour. If refurbishing, choose neutral colours for paintwork and white bathroom suites. Basic equipment should be supplied however as many tenants already have their own things it is often best to wait and match supply with tenant need.
Regulations
Overseas Landlords
If you intend to live abroad for 6 months or more whilst letting out a property you are classed
as an overseas landlord. We will provide you with an NRL1 form which should be completed
and returned to the Inland Revenue. They will then issue you with a reference number and we
will not be the interim period however as your agent, we are legally bound to collect tax from
the tenant income (Taxes Management Act 1970).
More information can be found at www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nr-landlords.htm
H.M.O Licensing
If your property is let to three or more unrelated individuals you will require an HMO license
for houses in multiple occupation. This is required by the local authority and failure to comply
can lead to heavy fines.
Fire Safety
Furniture and Furnishings
Effective as of 1st March 1993 all furniture must comply with the Fire and Furnishings (Fire)
(Safety) Regulations 1988, amended in 1989.
- All upholstered articles must have fire resistant filling material
- Upholstered articles must have passed a match resistance test or be used with a fire resistant interliner
- The combination of the cover fabric and the filling material must have passed a cigarette resistance test
Labelling
Always check that the appropriate label is on any furniture. Furniture manufacture after 1989 should have these attached.
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all furniture and soft furnishings comply with the above legislation. Any items which do not comply should be removed from your property. Where possible, receipts for furniture and furnishings should be kept.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon Monoxide Detectors are required in all properties with gas.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke alarms are required in all properties.
Gas Safety
The gas safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 state that all gas appliances within every property must be tested for safety every 12 months by a CORGI registered engineer.
The landlord must obtain a landlords gas safety certificate which should also be available to the tenant.
Electrical Safety
Five Yearly Electrical Checks
From 1st June 2020, private landlords in England will be required to have the electrical installation in their rental properties checked by a qualified electrician to ensure that they are safe.
This means that:
- Electrical installations must be inspected and tested prior to the start of a new tenancy from 1st July 2020
- Checks must be carried out on any existing tenancies by 1st April 2021
These checks must then be carried out on a five yearly basis.
A copy of the most recent electrical safety condition report (EICR) must be provided to both new and retained tenants.
Energy Performance Certificates
As of 4th of January 2009, all properties advertised for renting must have an EPC in place. This should be carried out before the property is marketed and if the property is currently tenanted then it should be carried out at the next new tenancy.
