Giving Landlords Peace Of Mind

If you own a rental property, you’ll know how stressful a landlord’s life can be – but it needn’t be that way. Our lettings team will take care of everything for you – from valuation and vetting, through to rent collection, maintenance and strict compliance with ever-changing legislation. We have a database of people who are actively searching for a local property right now. And for complete peace of mind, we can even arrange a Rent Guarantee and Legal Cover Policy

What We Offer

Finding The Right Tenant(s)

Moving Your Tenant(s) In

Deal with day-to-day management

Finding The Right Tenant(s)

- Property Appraisal & Valuation – We offer an independent appraisal of your property by one of our trained and experienced surveyors. It is free and with no obligations. We also advise you on other necessary measures before you let the property, such as necessary repairs and renovations. It is important to set fair and achievable rents at competitive prices. Use our extensive knowledge of the local rental market to assess how much your property can be acquired in the current climate. The evaluation of our rental takes into account the location, size, criteria, condition of the property and whether it is furnished, partially furnished or unfurnished. During the evaluation, we will discuss the rental process with you and answer your questions. If you are a first-time homeowner, you have plenty of opportunities to learn more about what residential property permitting involves.
- Effective Advertising & Marketing – We use all major websites including zoopla.com and onthemarket.com. This gives the rental property as much online exposure as possible, regardless of the device used by the potential tenant. Once instructions are given, one of the first things to do is to match the property against the tenant’s waiting list and send the property details via email or SMS alert. High-quality photos are the key to presenting your rental property in the best possible way. We take the time to capture the best images of each room and show them the best features to make each image look professional.
- Securing The Most Suitable Tenant(s) – As a property landlord, you need the peace of mind that the right tenants live in your property. All potential tenants are assessed by us before applying to rent a property to make sure they are suitable. All properties will be inspected by a well-trained team member. We provide quick and honest feedback. We keep you updated with your progress and notify you as soon as someone requests to rent your property. This review process is an important step in ensuring a trustworthy tenant.

Energy Performance Certificate – All properties for rent must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before any marketing or viewings can take place. An EPC rates energy efficiency and its environmental impact and is valid for ten years for rental properties. A copy of the EPC must be made available to tenants before entering into a tenancy agreement. If you do not have an EPC for your property, We can arrange an inspection for Energy Performance Certificate for you.

Gas Safety Certificate – Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords have a legal responsibility to make sure all gas pipework, appliances, fittings and flues are safe to use and maintained in a safe condition. Every gas appliance and flue must be tested for gas safety every 12 months. A Gas Safety record must be provided to existing tenants within 28 days of the annual safety check, or to new tenants before they move in, and you must keep copies yourself for two years. All installation, maintenance and safety checks must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. We can arrange one for you.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – New regulations introduced in October 2015 require landlords to install smoke alarms on every floor of their rental property and test them at the start of every tenancy. And to install carbon monoxide alarms in high-risk rooms such as those where a solid fuel heating system is installed.

Electrical Safety – Landlords need to make sure that the electrical installation on a rental property is safe when tenants move in and are kept safe. Although not a legal requirement, it is strongly recommended that a certified electrician inspect and test the property every five years and conduct a portable device test (PAT test) once a year to ensure that the appliances are safe to use and appropriate to the purpose.

Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations 2010 – Upholstered furniture and soft furnishings provided in a rental property must comply with applicable regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, bed frames, mattresses, headboards, sofa beds, pillows, cushions, seat cushions, and any garden furniture that can be used indoors. Items that comply with the standards will have a suitable permanent tag attached. All non-compliant items must be removed before a tenant can move in. Bedding, rugs, curtains, and any furniture manufactured before 1950 are exempt.

Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) – If you own a property and rent it out, your local council may decide to do an HHSRS inspection. Inspectors look at 29 health and safety areas.

Consent to Let – If your property is mortgaged, you must obtain written consent from your mortgage lender. In the case of a lease, the landlord’s written consent may be required before subleasing.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) – If your property is rented to at least three tenants who share bathrooms, baths, or kitchen facilities, but are not from the same household or family (sometimes called a “share house”), it is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). Depending on the size of the property, the number of residents, and the area, an HMO license and an HHSRS inspection may be required by the local council. We can assist you with this.

Buildings Insurance – Landlords are required by law to take out buildings insurance for rental properties. We advise our clients to also consider contents insurance and policies to cover rent guarantee and legal expenses.

Moving Your Tenant(s) In

Tenancy Agreement – This is a legally binding contract that sets out the rights and obligations of both the landlord and the tenant. Most residential properties are rented on Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) for the initial fixed period of 6 or 12 months. We can advise on all available options that will help you make informed decisions on areas of responsibility, lease terms, how and when to review your rent, and terms of notification. We will prepare all the documents and create a complete legal document. If we are fully managing your tenancy and rental property for you, then the tenancy agreement will include those activities we will be responsible for on your behalf.

Inventory / Schedule – All inventories created for our clients include a complete description, content and condition of the property, including walls, floors, all lighting fixtures, fittings and furnishing for which photographic evidence are provided. It provides important legal advice in the event of a discrepancy or demand for a deposit by the tenant during the termination of the tenant’s contract.

Utilities & Council Tax – Tenants are usually responsible for utilities and council taxes. We can organize all meter readings and arrange for the transfer of water, gas, electricity, telephone, TV license and council tax bills to the tenant.

Deposit Schemes – A deposit is paid by the tenant at the start of a tenancy to safeguard against damage. Since April 2007, all new Assured Shorthold Tenancies must be registered with a government-backed tenancy deposit protection scheme (DPS) within 30 days of receipt of the deposit. If we are not providing our Fully Managed Letting Service to you, then you would need to register the deposit with a deposit protection scheme (DPS) yourself. Landlords should be aware that there are significant penalties for failing to comply with deposit protection requirements.

Keys – You should provide at least one set of keys for each tenant. Where we will be managing the property for you, we will also require a full set. We can arrange to have duplicates cut.

Deal with day-to-day management

Rent Collecting – We collect rent on a monthly basis unless otherwise stated in the Rental Agreement. Occasionally renters may be in financial difficulty, and our rental collection services include tracking any late payments. We will advise you as soon as possible of any rent arrears. We hire a referral agency to protect against loss of rental income. We pay the monthly rent to landlords through BACS (minus our fees and any payments, bills and income tax if applicable) and provide monthly income and expense reports.

Rental Income & Taxation – As a landlord, you are responsible for calculating your own taxes on the rent you receive. The following is basic guidance on tax issues related to landlords, but it is always advisable to seek independent financial advice from your tax accountant.

Overseas Landlords – Your lettings agency must deduct the tax from the rental income and pay the tax directly to HM Revenue and Customs. If you choose not to collect rent using a rental agent, the tenant is legally responsible for collecting and paying taxes to HMRC. Alternatively, foreign homeowners can apply for permission to receive a tax-free rental income. Details of the NRL Scheme are available from HMRC.

Inspections, Maintenance & Repairs – The practicalities of being a landlord can be very time-consuming. With our fully managed rental service, we take care of all the day-to-day management and maintenance of your rental property so you don’t have to worry about it. We will conduct regular routine inspections, usually quarterly, at a mutually convenient time agreed with the tenant. This will involve visual inspections, evaluation of any wear and tear, and organising maintenance and compliance checks. If we identify any problems, we will inform you and depending on our agreement with you, we can organize repairs and any work to be done on the property and pay for it with the rent received. We have a network of trustworthy and reliable contractors that we can turn to for routine or emergency repairs at very competitive rates.

Tenancy renewals, reviews and notices – We will arrange all tenancy renewals, including rent reviews, for you. If you decide to increase your rent we will provide relevant notice to your tenants. If you want to end the tenancy, we will notify your tenant in accordance with all legal processes and time requirements and we will manage all end of tenancy administrations.

End of Tenancy Checks & Deposit Returns – At the end of the tenancy, the landlord must ensure that the property is in good condition before the tenant moves out, returns the keys and formally takes possession of the property. Assuming that there are no problems and that all paperwork has been completed, utility companies are notified and you have a forwarding address for the tenant, the owner must return the tenant’s deposit. All of this is included as part of our Fully Managed Letting Service.

Tenant Question

At SPIRE, we understand that renting a property comes with questions and considerations. Our Tenant FAQ section is designed to provide you with clarity and confidence throughout your renting journey. We’ve compiled a list of common inquiries to ensure that you have the information you need at your fingertips.

What documentation and information do I need to provide in order to rent a property?

Prospective renters often inquire about the necessary paperwork and documentation, such as identification, proof of income, and references, required to secure a rental property through SPIRE.

What is the standard lease term, and are there any flexible options available?

How does the maintenance and repairs process work for rented properties?