Letting your property

 

 

At James Pye & Son we have a substantial rental property portfolio which includes Landlords with a single investment property as well as experienced Landlords with multiple properties.

 

 

Our Strengths

 

• Prominent Skipton Office with free parking.

• Family run business.

• Local rental knowledge.

• Extensive market coverage.

• The majority of our business is through personal recommendation from satisfied clients & tenants

• 6-day operation - Monday to Thursday (9am - 5.30pm), Friday (9am - 5pm) and Saturday (9am - 12 noon).

• Website updated daily.

• High quality properties attracting good quality tenants.

• NAEA, ARLA and OFT commended, with clients Money Protection Scheme.

• Privately owned company with over 100 years experience

 

 

 

What James Pye & Son Can Do For You

 

• Visit you at your property and advise on rental value, legal requirements and how to prepare the property for let.

• Accompany all viewings

• Reference the tenants and report to you.

• Prepare a detailed inventory and schedule of condition including photographs (by an independent professional Inventory Clerk).

• Prepare an appropriate tenancy agreement for signature.

• Obtain a deposit from the tenants, normally over one months rent.

• Arrange for the tenant to pay the rent monthly by standing order.

• Lodge the deposit with the Tenant Dispute Service (TDS).

• Account to you monthly.*

• Visit the property quarterly to check it is being looked after by the tenants.*

• Arrange for repairs/ maintenance work on your behalf as instructed by you.*

• At the end of the tenancy check the property and establish any dilapidations which may be paid from the tenants deposit.*

 

*Depending on which service is taken

 

 

Landlord Responsibilities

 

• To ensure that the property is handed over to the tenant in good and safe repair.

• Insure the buildings and their own contents.

• Professional clean to include carpets, curtains, windows and garden tidy prior to the tenancy commencement.

• Gas and electrical checks prior to any tenancy commencing.

• Maintenance and upkeep of the property throughout the tenancy.

 

 

Preparation For Letting

 

Furniture

 

• There is far more demand for unfurnished properties than furnished.

• In an unfurnished property it is normally expected that carpets, curtains, light fittings and white goods are left.

• If it is essential that you let your property furnished then only leave the essential items (ensuring they comply with Fire Regulations) and nothing personal. It is not necessary to leave linen.

• The more electrical items left in a property the higher the potential cost to you for breakdowns/electrical checks and replacement.

 

Gas Appliances

 

• Must all be serviced and checked annually with a Gas Safety Certificate being provided to the tenant prior to the tenancy commencement in accordance with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 as amended 1996. James Pye & Son will make the necessary arrangements with a suitable qualified Gas Safe engineer annually.

 

Electrical Installation And Appliances

 

• It is recommended that the installation is checked every 5 years.

• It is recommended that the appliances are checked annually.

 

Smoke Detectors

 

• Must be installed and in working order prior to a property being let.

 

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

 

• It is strongly advised that these are installed.

 

Keys

 

• 3 sets of front door keys should be provided to the agent (2 for the tenants, 1 as a management set for the agent).

• Other keys should be left in the property (in a kitchen drawer).

 

Instructions

 

• Instructions for household equipment, central heating and other useful information should be left in a file at the property.

• Copies of all guarantees should be left with the agent.

 

Inventory

 

• Prepared by our office manager with a schedule of condition attached.

• This is prepared for the benefit of both landlord and tenant.

• It is recorded on a room by room basis with a list of all items and the condition of those items and the décor, furnishings etc.

• It is supported by photographs - particularly relevant for the garden.

• Items of a lessor value than £5.00 are normally excluded.

• Standard garden tools will be listed but general items stored in garages, outbuildings will be recorded as “miscellaneous”.

• China/cutlery/books will be listed by number.

• At the end of the tenancy we will guide as to the cost of dilapidations.

• Fair wear and tear must be taken into account and cannot be charged to the tenant.

• The age of an item will determine the proportion of any cost that can be fairly charged to a tenant.

 

Maintenance Contracts

 

• These are recommended for items such as central heating systems, alarms, white goods and lawn mowers with the contracts being lodged at our office.

 

Oil, Solid Fuel And Lpg

 

• Where relevant the tank should be left full at the start of the tenancy and the tenant will then fill the tank before vacating. The same applies to solid fuel.

 

Council Tax, Electricity, Gas And Water Services

 

• We will arrange for final accounts for council tax, electricity, gas and water.

 

Mail

 

• You should make arrangements for your post to be forwarded to you.

 

Chimney Sweep

 

• Chimneys should be swept prior to the tenancy commencement and the tenant will be expected to do the same at the end of the tenancy.

 

Garden

 

• Should be handed over in good seasonal order and tenants will be expected to leave the same at the tenancy termination.

 

Mortgage

 

• You will need to obtain formal approval to let your property from your lender.

• This can take some time so it is imperative to contact your lender immediately you consider letting your property.

 

Leasehold

 

• Written confirmation from the landlord that the letting is permitted must be obtained.

• The Head Lease must not expire prior to the tenancy for your tenant.

• A copy of the Head Lease must be provided to the agent to attach to the tenancy agreement.

 

 

Covenants and/or rules and regulations for your property must be provided to the agent to attach to the tenancy agreement.