Westbourne Lettings and Property Management operate to the very highest standards for your peace of mind and are members of:
Whether you are a first-time investor, professional portfolio operator or private landlord letting your own home, we look forward to showing you what Westbourne's professionalism and passion can deliver to you, the client.
This service applies to initial fixed tenancy terms of six months or more. It is designed for landlords with the time and expertise to manage their own properties including tenant requests, safety, compliance, maintenance and repairs during a tenancy, and with the experience to handle deposit allocations at the end.
Our service above and in addition will collect all rental payment during the tenancy making payments each month to your designated bank account.
Designed to complement our standard letting service and ideal for landlords who require support to meet their legal, safety and maintenance obligations. To assist those without the time or desire to deal with routine requests from a tenant delivering complete peace of mind from the time a property is first marketed until the tenant deposit is returned.
The full management service is also available to landlords who have not used our standard letting service and are looking for their property to me managed by a reputable and experienced company.
Letting Service. 9.6% Inclusive of vat. (Paid in Advance).
We will advise on current market rent and preparing your property for letting; provide guidance on safety and compliance issues; advertise the property on specified websites and erect a board at the property (where permitted to do so); introduce applicants and accompany viewings; collect a holding deposit, initial rent and tenancy deposit; process rent and advise of any non-payment; advise on tax status, making any HMRC deductions due.
The letting fee is payable as a percentage of the rent in advance and subject to a minimum fee of £900 (£750 + vat)
Rent Collection Service. 2.8% Inclusive of vat. (Paid monthly).
Minimum term of twelve months.
Full Management Service. 6% inclusive of vat. (Paid monthly).
We will advise utility providers and the local authority of a change of tenant, deal with day-to-day routine management and provide an emergency out-of-hour service, collect and process the rent, hold a working float, carry out a routine property visit once per annum and prepare a property visit report, obtain renewal of safety records, hold property keys, arrange inventory check-out appointment (landlord cost), negotiate claims against the deposit, distribute the deposit, prepare dispute claim for The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) adjudication. Re-check tenant and occupants Right to Rent status during the tenancy where necessary.
Renewal Service. Charged at the same rate as the original tenancy fee/letting service.
We will contact both parties in advance to advise of options; advise on market rent and negotiate terms. This fee is payable in advance and includes any renewal, extension, holding over or periodic tenancy.
Example of letting or renewal commission.
If we let a property or renew a tenancy on your behalf as above for a period of 12 months at a rental of £1,500pcm and at a commission of 9.6% then you should expect to pay to us the sum of £1,728.00 in advance at the start of the initial or renewal period (12 x £1,500 x 9.6% = £1,728).
Initial Tenancy Agreement Preparation. £300 inc vat. (Supplied by Westbourne through Goodlord).
Assured shorthold tenancy (AST), initial or 'change of tenant' agreement, per tenancy.
Negotiating, drafting and executing the agreement, referencing each initial tenant (inc. Right to Rent check), referencing guarantor, serving Section 21 Notice.
Renewal of Tenancy Agreement Preparation. £300 inc vat.
Referencing and Right to Rent Checks. £60 inc vat per tenant, guarantor or company, to include initial Right to Rent check where applicable.
Westbourne uses the services of Goodlord to ensure all aspects of letting your property is fully compliant. Goodlord is an independent specialist company and will carry out all referencing and Right to Rent checks on your behalf and who may also offer a 12-month Landlord Protection Insurance Service for qualifying references at an additional cost. Where you instruct us to draw up an AST tenancy agreement you will not be charged for initial referencing.
Deposit Protection Administration and Submission. £75 inc vat.
Administration covering deposit protection with The Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
To include registering the deposit with the DPS, issuing prescribed information, scheme leaflet and certificate.
Property Inventory, Condition and Check in Report.
Westbourne advise all landlords to use the services of an Independent Inventory company to ensure the condition of their property is properly accounted for at the start, and at the end of each tenancy to enable deductions from the tenant's deposit to be made and more importantly should there be any disagreement to provide the Deposit Protection Service independent information of condition and any discrepancies between check in and check out. Quote Upon Request.
Professional and End of Tenancy Cleaning.
Westbourne use a number of reputable and reliable cleaning companies and will be happy to arrange the above service should you wish to instruct us to do so.
Quotes can be obtained when required.
With over 150 separate pieces of statutory and legislative government guidelines to adhere to in England and Wales, it is imperative you the landlord are fully compliant when renting your property.
Below is an overview of the most common acts and regulations to follow when letting your property.
Energy Performance Certificate.
Should this be the first time letting your property, it is a legal requirement to have an energy performance certificate in place before marketing can commence and Westbourne's will be more than happy to arrange this for you.
An EPC measures the energy efficiency of a property using a scale of A to G and is valid for a period of 10 years.
It is a legal requirement to have a minimum band E rating before the property can be advertised.
Landlords are obliged to provide all tenants with a copy of the EPC at the start of each new tenancy.
There are exemptions for certain properties and these have to be registered on the Government's exemptions register which can be found here.
Gas Safety Certificate.
If your property has a supply of gas, you must check all gas appliances annually and provide a Gas Safety Record to your tenant. Safety records may also be required for properties that are supplied hot water or heating from a communal boiler.
A certificate must be provided before the start of any new tenancy and annually thereafter. It is a legal requirement to provide your tenant a copy of this certificate every 12 months when completed.
Should you Instruct Westbourne's to manage your property, we will arrange the renewal and provide an updated certificate to you and your tenant.
Electrical safety.
You the landlord have a responsibility to ensure the electrical installations and appliances in your property are safe.
You must complete a fixed wiring test every five years and provide a copy of the certificate to your tenant before the start of any new tenancy.
Westbourne's can arrange this for you, should you instruct us to do so ahead of a new tenancy but it will be your responsibility to renew this unless you instruct us to manage the property for you.
Where we manage the property on your behalf, we will renew the certificate and provide an updated copy to you and your tenant. Quotes on application.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
It is mandatory to provide smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in specified locations throughout rented properties.
The alarms must be tested and working at the start of every new tenancy and should be replaced at regular intervals.
Westbourne's can arrange these checks for you, if you wish, ahead of a new tenancy but it will be your responsibility to continue checking them unless you instruct us to manage the property for you.
Water and bacterial control.
You must ensure risk from exposure to legionella in water systems is properly controlled. Properties left empty or those with open cold-water tanks, swimming pools and hot tubs are particularly at risk. Westbourne can arrange risk assessments and offer further advice if we manage the property for you.
Heating and hot water.
Landlords of properties in a block that benefits from a central or shared supply of services such as heating, air conditioning or hot water must provide details to the National Measurements Office if they intend to pass on charges for these services to a tenant. A meter must also be installed. Where we are managing a property like this for you, we can assist with reporting, but we advise you to discuss this with us before marketing begins.
Fire and furnishings.
Any furniture provided in a rented property must comply with fire resistance regulations.
While some antique furniture may be exempt, labels attached to new furnishings will confirm compatibility and should be left attached.
Separate safety standards deal with internal window blinds and the danger posed by cords and chains to babies and children. Landlords should consider window restrictors with child proof release catches to reduce the risk of a child falling.
We will be happy to advise further if needed, so please seek our advice before considering furnishing a rental property.
Charging of fees to tenants.
The Tenant Fee Act 2019 prohibits charging most types of pre-tenancy costs to a tenant.
Charges which are allowed include:
Latest Money Laundering Directive.
Westbourne Property Lettings and Management is subject to the 5th Money Laundering Directive which requires us to verify the identity of customers who are transacting rents in excess of 10,000 Euros per month. Westbourne will verify the identity of affected tenants on your behalf, but may also need to verify your identity too. We will use all methods available including electronic verification methods whenever possible to improve speed and efficiency.
Deposit protection.
When a tenant pays a security deposit, it must be protected in a government approved scheme within 30 days of receipt if the tenancy will be an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST). We will tell you whether the tenancy will be an AST or not and we'll protect the tenant's deposit in the correct manner with The Deposit Protection Service (Custodial Scheme).
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
(HHSRS) Is a risk assessment tool used to determine whether a property is safe to live.
Essentially, it's a matrix system that rates the hazards in your property depending on the likely impact it will have on the occupant's health.
HHSRS inspections are not a regular occurrence like an electrical inspection or gas check. They typically take place during a survey of the property if a tenant complains to their local council about the health and safety of their home. Surveys are available and we work with a number of specialist companies who can advise further.
Local authority licensing (houses in multiple occupation).
Depending on the type, location and occupancy of your property, a license may be required from your local authority. It is important that you understand your local authority's requirements as every borough operates its own scheme with mandatory and discretionary licenses which may be required. Should you Instruct us to do so, we can arrange support from an expert third party to establish your liability and assist with any resulting licensing application.
Important Guidelines to Landlords.
In preparation of letting your property for the first time you will need to arrange the following, where applicable.
