For many people, the letting of a residential property can be a daunting prospect, as there appears to be many pitfalls.

Whether your decision to let a property is based on necessity or commercial enterprise, you will always be best advised to seek professional help.

The Letting Shop, having a detailed understanding of the letting market, can provide advice to those people who are letting their home for the first time.

For those individuals or companies who have an existing residential portfolio, The Letting Shop can provide a sliding scale of management charges to suit the individual's needs, depending on the size of the portfolio.

The Letting Shop is therefore able to offer two types of letting service - "Full Management" or "Introduction".

In both instances The Letting Shop specialises in "Fast Track" letting.  Providing certain criteria can be met, your propety can be occupied by the right tenant within 2-3 days.  There is no additonal fee for this service.  Please ask for details.

This service provides:

- Rental appraisals - up to date advice on the potential rental value of the property.
- Introduction of the tenant, to include obtaining all necessary references - this is completed "in house" to reduce void let times.
- Setting up of Standing Orders and the processing of rents received
- Preparation of the periodic statement of account.
- Payment of rent into client's UK bank account.
- Payment of outgoings by arrangement.
- Co-ordination of repairs/refurbishments at the property as authorised by the landlord using Armstrong Ltd or the Landlord's preferred contractors.
- Granting or renewing agreements.
- Co-ordination of inspections of the property.
- Establishing a tax reserve where necessary.
- Arranging additional insurance cover for rent protection and legal costs where applicable.

In order to attract a good quality tenant and the best rent, it is vitally important that the property is well presented.

The Letting Shop is happy to provide advice in this respect. In addition, we will be able to advise you on whether to let the property furnished, part furnished or unfurnished.

We are also able to offer you a comprehensive furnishings or decorating service, tailored to your individual requirements.

The Letting Shop strongly believes that only well presented properties will attract the best tenants and achieve the highest rental income. We believe that a small financial outlay at the beginning can often result in a higher rent being achieved.

One of the main requirements for a successful and trouble free letting is a good tenant. Once we have been instructed to let your property, we will match it to our applicants register and also advertise within local press. In addition, your property will be on a property list, which is freely issued to all potential tenants and sent to our specially selected associated agency outlets.

All prospective tenants are required to fill out an application form and references will be taken up whether we are acting as managing agents or not. Obtaining references etc. can take time and it is important that the property is made available to us as soon as possible.

We obtain references from (where applicable)

- Employer (accounts of self employed)
- Bank
- Previous Landlord
- Personal
- Credit search

All of which are carried out "in-house" and not outsourced, thus considerably reducing void let times.

Our agreements are approved by the majority of banks and building societies and comply with all the current legislation. There is also provision for any potential changes in the legislation that may occur in the future. If necessary we can arrange for individual tailor made agreements to be written by solicitors. However there is an additional fee for this service.

Prior to the commencement of a tenancy, The Letting Shop requires the tenant(s) to pay a Dilapidations Deposit, normally equal to a minimum of six weeks' rent. Once an inspection has been made at the end of the tenancy, and subject to everything being found to be in order, this is then returned to the tenant.

One area which can cause problems between Landlords and Tenants is the Inventory/Schedule of Dilapidation. On this basis we use Armstrong Ltd, an Independent company, for the preparation of the above documentation.

An inventory is essential in order to accurately assess the condition and contents of the property. This document can be used to monitor the property during the period of the tenancy up until its termination.

Inspections and the checking in and out of tenants is also handled by Armstrong Ltd, but are coordinated by The Letting Shop.

The majority of property owners leave maintenance until something goes wrong, and this can create substantial bills. A program of planned property maintenance is a service we are able to offer our Landlords. This would involve an inspection of the property by Armstrong Ltd's Maintenance Division, who would highlight the areas requiring repair and attention as well as providing an indication of how best to phase the repairs and/or improvements and the associated costs. This is a free service.

As you will see from our Landlord Information Sheet we ask for your agreement to allow The Letting Shop, at their discretion, to spend up to £75.00 (inc. VAT) so that we are able to proceed with emergencies without the need for contacting you unnecessarily. The £75.00 would be deducted from the first months rent and held in The Letting Shop Clients Account. Should a repair become necessary which exceeds this limit we will arrange for a number of estimates/quotations. These can be submitted to you for your approval. It must be appreciated that on some occasions extremely urgent matters arise which require instant attention in order to protect your property from further damage. Our office is open Monday to Friday - 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 12pm, and it is vital that you provide us with a contact telephone number in case of emergency.