Landlord Guide

Letting a property can be a complex process, but with careful planning and attention to detail, you can increase your chances of a successful let. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process.

Book a Valuation

1Free Rental Valuation

We offer free rental valuation to help you understand the true rental potential of your property. Our expert team will assess your property, considering factors such as location, market trends, and property condition, to provide an accurate and competitive valuation. With this service, you'll have the insights needed to make informed decisions and maximize your rental income.

2Select Your Service Plan

First 4 Lettings offers two tailored service plans to meet your specific needs. You can choose our basic Tenant Find Service or opt for the premium experience with our most popular Fully Managed Service.

3Presenting Your Property

First impressions are crucial when letting a property. Ensuring the presentation is of a high standard can greatly impact its appeal to prospective tenants. Address any outstanding maintenance tasks and refresh areas with a coat of paint where necessary.

4Extensive Online Advertising

We advertise your property on leading property portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla, and others to maximise exposure to potential tenants. By listing on these high-traffic platforms, we ensure your property reaches a broad audience, increasing the likelihood of securing the right tenant quickly and efficiently.

5Photography & Virtual Tours

The first impression potential tenants have of your property starts with the photos. At First 4 Lettings, we use the latest iPhone technology to capture high-quality, wide-angle images and videos that showcase your property in the best light. We also offer dressed photos, ensuring your property looks its absolute best, creating a modern and inviting feel. With our professional approach, your listing is sure to stand out and attract the right tenants quickly.

6Viewings And Feedback

At First 4 Lettings, we offer an exceptional viewing service tailored to meet tenant requests as flexibly as possible. Our team is well-versed in the details of your property, enabling them to showcase it effectively and highlight its best features. We also prioritise communication, ensuring you receive comprehensive feedback after each viewing to keep you informed throughout the letting process.

7Negotiating The Terms Of The Offer

Our experienced Lettings Negotiators strive to obtain the best possible rental and will notify you any time an offer has been made. We will handle the negotiations between you and the tenant and relay all relevant information in a timely manner.

Once negotiations have reached a positive conclusion and you are happy to accept an offer, we will arrange for the tenant to reserve the property.

Our top tip: Be clear with your agent about the type of tenant you will be happy with, for example: are pets an issue?

8Referencing

At First 4 Lettings, we understand the importance of conducting thorough checks on prospective tenants to protect your investment. Upon reservation, all applicants undergo Vouch’s comprehensive referencing process, which gives landlords an in-depth overview of each tenant’s personal and financial background. This includes detailed evaluations of their employment history, previous addresses, and creditworthiness, ensuring that the right tenant is selected for your property.

9Final Steps

Upon receipt of satisfactory references, First 4 Lettings will:

  • • Arrange for the signing of the Tenancy Agreement
  • Collect the deposit and first month's rent
  • Conduct a Property Inventory

For your peace of mind, we will hold the deposit and register it with our chosen deposit protection scheme. This ensures a smoother and more efficient deposit release process at the end of the tenancy.

10Move-in

For fully managed properties, the tenant will be introduced to our team and given the points of contact for any tenancy, maintenance or general enquiries. In other cases, we will provide the tenant with the landlord's contact information.

Congratulations, your property is now successfully let!

Congratulations, your property is now let!!

We hope you've found this guide useful, and should you need any further help please feel free to contact us.

Fees

PERMITTED PAYMENTS

As well as paying the rent, you may also be required to make the following permitted payments:

1) Holding Deposit: Up to one week’s rental

2) Deposit: One month’s rental (5 weeks rental dependent on individual’s circumstances)

3) Payments for utilities (gas, electricity & water), communication services (telephone & broadband), Installation/Subscription of cable/satellite, TV licence and council tax

4) Default Fee (late payment of rent): If full Rent is not paid within 14 days or more of the Rent Due Date there will be a charge 3% plus the Bank of England base interest rate of the full rental amount until full payment is received

5) Default Fee (breach of tenancy agreement, any other permitted payments, under relevant legislation including contractual damages): For any breach of the tenancy agreement based on the reasonably incurred costs of the agent or landlord

6) Replacement of keys, fobs or other security devices

7) Default Fee (changes to the tenancy): An administrative charge of £50.00 or greater for any assignment, variation or novation of the tenancy agreement made at the tenant’s request (only if agreed by The Landlord and/or The Landlord’s Agent)

8) Payments in respect of early termination of a tenancy agreement at the tenant’s request


TENANT PROTECTION

First 4 Lettings is a member of Client Money Protect which is a client money protection scheme, and also a member of PRS (Property Redress Scheme), which is a redress scheme.