Whether you’re a professional landlord with a property portfolio, or simply wish to let your home, Howard Douglas can handle the whole process for you.

 

We let and manage a diverse range of residential and commercial property throughout South Devon and also Exeter and Plymouth.

 

Our tenant finding service fee is a sum equivalent to one months rent, maximum. Our full management fee is 14.4% of all rents collected plus a one-off set-up fee of £330. We charge a re-letting fee of £240 to find a new tenant for a managed property.

 

All the above fees are inclusive of VAT at the prevailing rate (currently 20%). 

 

Setting the Rent

 

We will provide an authoritative free open market rental valuation of your property, taking into account current market trends and demand.

 

The Right Tenant

 

Finding the right tenant is the most important aspect for successful letting. We always have a database of prospective tenants (some already referenced) and our extensive internet and newspaper advertising attracts new tenants through our doors on a daily basis.  

 

Referencing

 

Once a tenant has expressed interest in your property we will, with your approval, take out comprehensive referencing and financial credit checks to confirm the applicant's income/employment status and that their current/previous landlord (if applicable) has been happy and believes them to be suitable tenants. We will also obtain a personal credit score rating from an agency before deciding to proceed.

 

The Legal Side of Things

 

Letting a property and the landlord and tenant acts can be a legal minefield. We will take care of everything on your behalf and ensure that you are fully compliant with current lettings legislation so you can have full peace of mind.

 

Deposits/Client Money Protection/Property Ombudsman 

 

A deposit equivalent to one month’s rent is usually taken at commencement of the tenancy and by law has to be held in a government approved scheme. Howard Douglas use the custodial Deposit Protection Service for all our deposits and we will provide your tenant with the prescribed scheme rules.

 

We are members of the Client Money Protect scheme https://www.clientmoneyprotect.co.uk/ 

 

Our firm is a member of the Property Ombudsman (sales and lettings) https://www.tpos.co.uk/

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule of Condition/Inventory

 

Just prior to commencement of the tenancy we will prepare a detailed schedule of condition/inventory of your property, which the tenant will be required to approve. This schedule will form the basis of any dilapidations claim at the end of the tenancy.

 

Payment of Rent

 

Rent is usually paid monthly in advance and we will promptly pay the landlord on receipt by electronic bank transfer, along with a monthly statement of account.

 

Management – Maintenance and Repairs

 

In the event that your property requires any maintenance or repairs we will arrange and oversee any works using local, accountable and reliable tradesmen. You will be kept fully informed of any costs prior to work being carried out (unless an emergency repair is required). We also ensure that annual appliance safety certificates are carried out throughout the term of the tenancy. All managed properties are personally inspected by us at regular intervals throughout the tenancy.

 

End of Tenancy

 

At the end of a managed tenancy we will check-out the tenant, ensuring that the property is left in a satisfactory condition, dealing with the release of the deposit and informing the utility companies of the meter readings and change of customer.

 

The above is just a brief outline of the lettings process. We offer a personal and approachable service to both our landlords and tenants. For more information please contact Kate Tunstall – kate@howarddouglas.co.uk or Howard Douglas – howard@howarddouglas.co.uk

 

 

Lettings Services	Fully Managed	Tenant Find Only
Free market appraisal	ü	ü
Marketing the property including internet and newspaper advertising and accompanying viewings	ü	ü
Eye catching ‘to let’ boards	ü	ü
Interviewing prospective tenants and reporting to landlord as to suitability	ü	ü
Carrying out referencing and credit checks internally and via an external platform	£18 per applicant	£18 per applicant
Carrying out right to rent checks and money laundering checks	ü	ü
Organising gas safety and electrical safety checks along with sweeping of chimneys/flues prior to start of tenancy	ü	ü
Collection of deposit and preparing the required certificates and scheme paperwork	ü	ü
Lodging of deposit with The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) until end of tenancy	ü	û
Preparing, signing and witnessing of tenancy agreement	ü	ü
Providing a detailed text and photographic inventory and schedule of condition of the property prior to move in	ü	ü
Taking meter readings and advising utility companies of the change of customer at start of tenancy	ü	ü
Taking meter readings at end of tenancy	ü	û
Dealing with tenant check in and providing all the legally required associated documentation prior to tenant taking up possession	ü	ü
Collection of rent and monthly statements	ü	û
Chasing up late/non-payment of rent by phone, email, letter and in person	ü	û
Regular property visits throughout the tenancy including follow up visits to confirm that any issues are resolved	ü	£48 per visit
Additional visits to the property during the tenancy to organise maintenance works and allow access for tradesman	ü	£48 per visit
Organising renewal of safety certificates	ü	û
Maintenance issues taken care of cost effectively by qualified tradesmen	ü	û
Emergency out of office number to agent	ü	û
Renewal of an existing tenancy at the end of a fixed term	ü	£60
Regular rent reviews	ü	£60
Rent review with new tenancy agreement	ü	£120
Inventory check out at end of tenancy	ü	£60
Negotiating return of deposit at end of tenancy	ü	û
Submission of Non-Resident Landlord Receipts to HMRC	ü	ü
Service of Section 21/or Section 8 Notice to end tenancy	ü	£90
Annual income and expenditure report	ü	ü
Arranging and overseeing refurbishment works at the start or end of a tenancy	£30 per hour	£30 per hour
Annual tax statements	ü	û
Travelling and mileage allowance, printing and postage charges	ü	ü
*all amounts include VAT at the prevailing rate (currently 20%)