1st Call Sales & Lettings offers a wide range of Letting and Management services which can be tailored to meet your individual needs; whether you are a private home owner, an investment landlord or a corporate property company, our aim is to make letting as simple as possible. You will be given all contact details including a emergency contact number so you can call anytime and receive answers promptly.

We will arrange an appointment to visit you and your property and discuss the current market value. A rental figure will be based on the furnishings (if any) available for Tenants and on the overall decorative condition, size and location. When we receive instructions to market your property, we will confirm our fees in writing and ask you to sign and date our Terms and Conditions. The property details will be issued to our large and regularly updated mailing list of potential applicants. Any suitable applicants will either be accompanied to view the property, if keys are held at our office, or we will contact you to arrange a mutually agreeable appointment. We would advise that we do hold keys on all vacant properties, to ensure that an accompanied viewing can take place at anytime.

We advertise in all the following areas to gain the best possible coverage for your property:

• > 24 Hours a Day Internet Advertising
• > www.rightmove.co.uk
• > 1st Call Sales & Lettings website
• > Text Messaging Service
• > Local Press
• > Direct Mailing
• > Leaflets Distributed Weekly
• > Specialist Publications
• > Advertising Boards
• > Shop Front Display
• > Company Let Lists

Once a suitable tenant has been found full references are taken as appropriate. If the references are satisfactory and your are happy to proceed an Assured Short hold Tenancy Agreement will be prepared. In addition we prepare an inventory and schedule of condition of the property and all its contents. One months rent is paid in advance and a further months rent held as a deposit. The deposit is held by DPS (The Deposit Protection Scheme). At the end of the tenancy, if the landlord and tenant agree how the deposit should be repaid, they will tell the scheme administrator, who will pay out he money as agreed, plus any interest earned on their share. The Tenants will complete a Standing Order Mandate. Both parties note meter readings. Once all the above items are completed the Tenant is provided with set of keys to the property. We do ask for a spare set of keys to be provided, which we will retain at our office.. We will inform the Gas board, Electricity board, Water Board & Council Tax Department of the local Authority of the new occupier. You will need to supply us with the relevant names of the utility companies in order for us to provide this service.

We would recommend that you inform your insurance company of the proposed letting at an early stage to ensure that cover for the property is not prejudiced in any way. Failure to inform your insurance company may result in the company refusing to meet any claim made.

If your property is mortgaged, you will require approval from your Building Society or Lender before you let your property. In most cases consent is given readily but it is wise to seek this consent as early as possible to avoid any undue delays.

We would also recommend that you check with your Solicitor to confirm if your lease contains a covenant forbidding the letting of your property. In addition your freeholder should be notified of the proposed letting.

The above regulations first came into effect 31st October 1994 to ensure that gas appliances are properly installed and maintained in a safe condition so as to avoid the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is the responsibility of landlords to ensure that ALL gas appliances and gas installation pipe work owned by them are checked for safety at lease once a year by British Gas or a member of the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI). In addition accurate records of the safety inspections and any work carried out must kept by the landlord or their agent. The current safety certificate must always be available for any tenant prior to them taking occupation of a property. We can arrange for this test to be carried out on your behalf by one of our recommended engineers. You will of course be responsible for the cost incurred.

The above regulations impose an obligation on a landlord to ensure that all electrical appliances left as part of a let property are safe. Cabling fuses and plugs should also be inspected and replaced where necessary. We would suggest you get a electrical safety check done before renting out your property to stay in line with new regulations and protect yourself against possible action that could be taken by tenants, in the future.

With effect from 1st March 1993, all upholstered furniture in rented accommodation must comply with the fire resistance requirements of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended). Furniture made before 1st January 1950 is excluded from these controls.
Bedclothes, carpets, curtains, and pillowcases are also excluded. Each piece of furniture that complies with these regulations (except beds and mattresses) should have a rectangular label permanently attached to it with the heading "CARELESSNESS CAUSES FIRE". If the furniture does not have this label or was made before 1988 it will probably not comply with these regulations. Failure to comply with the Furniture and Furnishings Regulations may constitute a criminal offence under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

The 1991 Building Regulations require that all properties built since June 1992 must be fitted with mains operated interlinked smoke detectors/alarms on each floor. Such regulations regarding older properties do not exist but we strongly recommend that smoke alarms are fitted in all let properties and are regularly.