Home Buy Sell Bestway Lettings Landlords Students Accommodation Flat / Room Share Services Business ads Electricity Gas Insurance Removals     Type Buy Rent Flat share Location Aston Handsworth Perry barr Min Bedrooms Studio 1 2 3 4 5+ Minimum price 50,000 75,000 150,000 225,000 300,000 375,000 450,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 Maximum price 75,000 150,000 225,000 300,000 375,000 450,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 By map     Advanced Search   Advertise here   Advertise here   Advertise here The Bestway to let your property Great ideas and Guide for Landlords   The goal of every smart landlord, like yourself, should be to maximize the profitability on each and every property you own. Successful property investing is more about cash flow than just capital growth. After all, the capital growth of a property is largely set when you buy or is influenced by market forces and things outside of your control. Good cash flow however, is something you can definitely do something about. Here are some great ideas that will help to achieve maximum rental values with minimum void periods, reduced costs, less hassle and less stress. Before a property can be let, there are several matters which the landlord will need to deal with to ensure that the tenancy runs smoothly, and also that landlord complies with the law. We provide some information below. If you require further advice or assistance with any issues relating to letting the property then contact our letting department on info@bestwayhomes.co.uk or complete contact form or phone 0121 356 9000.   Preparing the Property   We are expertise that a good relationship with Tenants is main issue of smooth-running tenancy. As Property Management Company this relationship is very important, it makes the Tenants feel comfortable in their temporary home, and that they are receiving value for their money. Therefore that a well presented and maintained property in a good decorative, whilst also achieving a higher rental figure. Tenants are also keeping clean and treat such a property with greater respect.     General Condition of the property   Electrical, gas, plumbing, waste, central heating and hot water systems must be safe, sound and in good working order. Repairs and maintenance are at the Landlords expense unless misuse can be established. Interior decorations should be in good condition and preferably plain, light and neutral.     Furnishings   Change furniture regularly. This is a great idea for single room lettings and student accommodation. Good quality and low cost furniture can easily be sourced from Ikea and others. Change pillows, mattresses and kitchen appliance when every tenant change, and leave them with their packaging on so the tenant so see they are new. You may be able to charge slightly more rent and the property may rent quicker too. Perhaps offer the choice of furnished or unfurnished your property can be let fully furnished, part furnished or unfurnished. Which of these is appropriate will depend on what type of property and local market conditions. We will be pleased to give you advice on whether to furnish or not and to what level. As a minimum you will need to provide decent quality carpets, curtains and light fittings. Remember that there will be wear and tear on the property and any items provided.     Gardens   Gardens should be left neat, tidy and rubbish free, with any lawns cut. Tenants are required to maintain the gardens to a reasonable standard, provided they are left the necessary tools. However, few Tenants are experienced gardeners, and if you value your garden, or if it is particularly large, you may wish us to arrange visits by our regular gardener.     Cleaning   At the commencement of the tenancy the property must be in a thoroughly clean condition, and at the end of each tenancy it is the Tenants' responsibility to leave the property in a similar condition. Where they fail to do so, cleaning will be arranged at their expense.     Information for the Tenant   It is helpful if you leave information for the Tenant, e.g. on operating the central heating and hot water system, washing machine and alarm system, and the day refuse is collected etc.     Mortgage   If your property is mortgaged, you should obtain your mortgagee's written consent to the letting. They may require additional clauses in the tenancy agreement of which you must inform us.     Leaseholds   If you are a leaseholder, you should check the terms of your lease, and obtain any necessary written consent before letting.     Insurance   You should ensure that you are suitably covered for letting under both your buildings and contents insurance. Failure to inform your insurers may invalidate your policies. We can advice on Landlords Legal Protection, Rent Guarantee Cover and Landlords Contents and Buildings Insurance if required.   Emergency Assistance Insurance: This normally covers contractors call out charges, labour charges and parts and materials up to, for example, a maximum of £600 (including VAT) for each emergency in connection with: Plumbing problems Heating system problems Electrical equipment problems such as a broken fridge or freezer Security of doors and windows Roofing problems Drains and sewer blockages Down pipes and guttering Electricity supply problems Lost keys     Bills and regular outgoings   We recommend that you arrange for regular outgoings e.g. service charges, maintenance contracts etc. to be paid by standing order or direct debit. However where we are managing the property, by prior written agreement we may make payment of certain bills on your behalf, provided such bills are received in your name at our office, and that sufficient funds are held to your credit.     Council tax and utility accounts   We will arrange for the transfer of Council Tax and utility accounts to the Tenant. Meter readings will be taken, allowing your closing gas and electricity accounts to be drawn up. All these matters we will handle for you, however British Telecom will require instructions directly from both the Landlord and the Tenant.     The inventory   It is most important that an inventory of contents and schedule of condition be prepared, in order to avoid misunderstanding or dispute at the end of a tenancy. Without such safeguards, it will be impossible for the Landlord to prove any loss, damage, or significant deterioration of the property or contents. In order to provide a complete Service, we will if required arrange for a member of staff to prepare an inventory and schedule of condition, at the cost quoted in our Agency Agreement.     Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)   From 1st October 2008 landlords in England and Wales offering property for rent will be required by law to provide prospective tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate for their property. The certificates must be provided free either when (or before) any written information about the property is provided to prospective tenants or a viewing is conducted. A new certificate will not be required on each let since, in the case of rental property; EPCs will be valid for 10 years. The requirement is being introduced to comply with the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which applies to all property, including rented property. We can arrange an EPC inspection for our landlord clients upon request. The cost is expected to be up to £50.00.     Gas   Annual safety check: Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 all gas appliances and flues in rented accommodation must be checked for safety within 12 months of being installed, and thereafter at least every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Maintenance: There is a duty to ensure that all gas appliances, flues and associated pipe work are maintained in a safe condition at all times. Records: Full records must be kept for at least 2 years of the inspections of each appliance and flue, of any defects found and of any remedial action taken. Copies to tenants: A copy of the safety certificate issued by the engineer must be given to each new tenant before their tenancy commences, or to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being carried out. We can arrange gas inspection for our landlord’s clients upon request. The cost is expected to be up to £45.00.     Electrical   There are several regulations relating to electrical installations, equipment and appliance safety, and these affect landlords and their agents in that they are 'supplying in the course of business'. They include the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, the Plugs and Sockets Regulations 1994, the 2005 Building Regulation - 'Part P, and British Standard BS1363 relating to plugs and sockets. Although with tenanted property there is currently no legal requirement for an electrical safety certificate (except in the case of all HMOs) it is now widely accepted in the letting industry that the only safe way to ensure safety, and to avoid the risk of being accused of neglecting your 'duty of care', or even of manslaughter is to arrange such an inspection and certificate. We can arrange electric inspection for our landlord’s clients upon request. The cost is expected to be up to £75.00.     Fire   The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989 & 1993) provide that specified items supplied in the course of letting property must meet minimum fire resistance standards. The regulations apply to all upholstered furniture, beds, headboards and mattresses, sofa-beds, futons and other convertibles, nursery furniture, garden furniture suitable for use in a dwelling, scatter cushions, pillows and non-original covers for furniture. They do not apply to antique furniture or furniture made before 1950, bedcovers including duvets, loose covers for mattresses, pillowcases, curtains, carpets or sleeping bags. Items which comply will have a suitable permanent label attached. Non-compliant items must be removed before a tenancy commences.     Smoke Alarms   All properties built since June 1992 must have been fitted with mains powered smoke detector alarms from new. Although there is no legislation requiring smoke alarms to be fitted in other ordinary tenanted properties, it is generally considered that the common law 'duty of care' means that Landlords and their Agents could be liable should a fire cause injury or damage in a tenanted property where smoke alarms are not fitted. We therefore strongly recommend that the Landlord fit at least one alarm on each floor (in the hall and landing areas).     HMO   is your property a House in Multiple Occupations (HMO)? If your property is on 3 or more levels and let to 5 or more tenants comprising 2 or more households (i.e. not all of the same family) it will be subject to mandatory licensing by your local authority. Whether mandatory licensing as above applies or not, if there are 3 or more tenants not all related in any property, it is still likely to be an HMO, and special Management rules apply. Learn more here:     The Tenancy Deposit Scheme   From 6 April 2007, all deposits taken by landlords and letting agents under Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales must be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme. Landlords and letting agents must not take a deposit unless it is dealt with under a tenancy deposit scheme. To avoid any disputes going to court, each scheme will be supported by an alternative dispute resolution service (ADR). Landlords and letting agents will be able to choose between two types of scheme; a single custodial scheme and two insurance-based schemes. You can learn more on the government website, which includes an overview of the requirements, and also links to the sites of the companies running the various schemes:   BESTWAY Lettings are offering FREE On line marketing Create your own property adverts Add up to 3 colour photographs of the property Highlight the property specifications Tenants will be able to contact you direct Property adverts are completely FREE and available to all If you would like to advertise your property online, Send pictures and a description of the property you would like to advertise. If you require further advice or assistance with any issues relating to letting the property then contact our letting department on info@bestwayhomes.co.uk or complete contact form or phone 0121 356 9000 . Once you have found a suitable tenant for your property, contact us and we can arrange for a full tenant check to be carried out. Landlords will be informed of the outcome and advised if further.       Home        |        Buy        |         Sell        |        Bestway Lettings        |         Landlords         |        Students Accommodation         |         Flat / Room Share         |        Services  Let it the best way with BestWay Homes   Bestway Homes Copyright 2009 Created by Estate Solutions