London Residential THE LONDON LETTINGS...

London Residential

THE LONDON LETTINGS GUIDE

Letting a London property successfully is all about market knowledge. You need an expert guide who knows their territory better than anyone and who will invest the same time and energy into getting to know you and your property. Someone who understands how to find the right kind of tenants who will treat your property as if it were their own, and who will help you navigate the multitude of responsibilities that go with being a landlord. For prime central London properties, that guide is Strutt & Parker.

WE KNOW LONDON INSIDE OUT

Covering prime central London, our lettings agents are here to make the process of letting a property as simple and stress-free as possible. With many years of experience between us, our team has become the preferred choice of owners and investors looking to generate the maximum value from their properties.

Whether you are a property investor with several properties to let, or you are renting out your family home, our focus is on delivering a seamless service that starts the moment you pick up the phone to request an appraisal of your property. We can look after every detail, from advising how to achieve an optimum rent and finding the right tenant, to handling the paperwork and managing the day-to-day practicalities of a tenancy.

We take great pride in our reach. Not only can we attract tenants from the local and national markets, but we can also tap into an international network that stretches across 42 countries. Wherever your perfect tenant is, we have the resources to find them.

We are also particularly proud of the high volume of repeat business we handle and that many new customers come to us through recommendations. We are never complacent and actively seek feedback after every transaction. This way we can fine-tune our service so that we are always taking care of the issues that matter to you.

As well as letting your property through Strutt & Parker, you can also benefit from the broad range of property expertise contained within our wider firm. We can help with everything from finding a buyer for your property at the end of the tenancy, to managing your country estate or offering advice on investing in commercial property.

“ Thank you so much for your excellent work in helping us to secure a rental property that is absolutely perfect for our needs. We were impressed with the speed and professionalism you showed in the ‘follow up’ regarding references etc and your desire to get us ‘locked in’ – really, really excellent. I would have no hesitation in recommending you and Strutt & Parker to friends and colleagues.”

LEAVE EVERYTHING TO US

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THE LETTINGS PROCESS

Many of our clients choose to take advantage of our full range of lettings services, which span the appraisal of a property and sourcing a tenant through to managing the property during the tenancy. We can even arrange and oversee any necessary renovations to your property. You simply choose the mix of services that suit your situation and your property.

Appraising your propertyWhether you are renting out your home or a portfolio of investment properties, our priority is to help you generate as much value as you can with as little inconvenience as possible. This is as much about targeting the right kind of tenants as it is about setting the rent at the right level and presenting the property well.

You will have one dedicated point of contact within our team from the start and they will begin by learning as much as they can about your property and what you want to achieve from the tenancy. Your letting agent will always visit the property, and will be accompanied by one of our personal property managers if you are also considering our property management services. This visit will give us a feel for the space, helping us to set the rent level and gain a clear idea of which tenant group we will be aiming to attract.

Straight after our meeting we will prepare and deliver our proposal. This will contain our pricing recommendation, formed from comparable properties recently let in the area, market conditions and advice on preparing the property to its best effect. This could involve anything from tidying up the garden or redecorating through to having more major renovation work carried out. We will also include a Step-by-step Guide to Letting Property in London, highlighting the key 10 steps to letting.

Finding the right tenantAs soon as you appoint us, we will start the process of finding your ideal tenant. As well as arranging viewings with any suitable tenants already on our databases and in our little black books, we will start to prepare the promotional material for a targeted media campaign. Sometimes an off-market marketing strategy works well.

BrochureIf appropriate, we can prepare a high quality brochure for your property as part of our fee. On a par with the material normally only produced for property sales, this will feature professional photographs, floorplans and will highlight the key selling features of your property.

“ Thank you very much for all your help in the viewing, negotiation and contract stage. My tenants enjoyed the bottle of champagne and bag of goodies upon their arrival.”


“ It’s a well-known fact that having kids running around the house isn’t conducive to a relaxing and productive viewing. With that in mind I arranged for a colleague to take the owner’s two little ones to play around in the park and buy them an ice-cream. I’m not sure which one of us was working harder for the next hour, but it was worth it because the person viewing the property commented on how much they liked the peaceful and ‘grown-up’ feel of the place.”

Strutt & Parker Chelsea Lettings

SOMETIMES IT’S A WALK IN THE PARK


Your property will be exposed to a variety of marketing channels to include:

– Strutt & Parker website– Christies International Real Estate network – Leading property portals – Print advertising in specialist

property publications– PR

PRPR can also be a very effective tool and we have excellent links with editorial teams in both London and national titles, allowing us to bring properties to an even wider audience. This is particularly effective where a property has a story to tell, such as a celebrity connection or an interesting history.

Relocation agentsWe also work closely with all the key relocation agents, and exclusive Strutt & Parker contacts that provide a steady supply of pre-vetted and motivated tenants. Off-market lets are becoming increasingly popular for those seeking ultimate discretion.

Viewings and offersOur agents turn up early to viewings so they can make sure the property is looking its best and take care of any last minute issues such as mail piling up in the communal areas, beds that need to be made or even curtains that need to be drawn. We make sure the prospective tenants have all the information they need to make a decision and we will give you feedback after every viewing. When offers are made, we pass them on immediately with our professional recommendations. When you decide on a tenant, we then handle all the negotiations until we arrive at an agreement that works for all parties.

Our appointmentsMany of our clients like to work with us exclusively as they know that we take care of their best interests. We automatically collaborate with other lettings agents to ensure your property has maximum exposure in finding a suitable tenant right from the start. We only succeed once we have delivered our promises to you and found you a tenant. All teams have many years of central London industry experience and we only recruit the best in the business. The department’s structure makes everyone accessible to you.

MARKETING CAMPAIGN

4,000 press mentions a year

7,000 hits on the Strutt & Parker website per day

42 countries in the international network

6 millionissues a year –Central London’s most prominent property advertiser


OPENING DOORS TO THE WORLD

Our global connections add a valuable dimension to our marketing strategies. We have the knowledge and network to bring quality international tenants to your door, as we have done for many clients. Across our network, more than 70% of tenants are international. Your perfect tenant could reside anywhere in the world – and our global links help you find them.

Christie’s International Real EstateStrutt & Parker is the sole UK affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, comprising of 1,049 affiliate offices worldwide. This places us at the heart of the world’s leading network of luxury real estate specialists and connects our expertise, service ethos and UK coverage to 127 estate agents in 42 countries. The network specialises in best-in-class properties and works to the highest standards of service and professionalism. Our affiliation gives us access to high net worth individuals worldwide – most pertinently in key wealth capitals across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Americas, the Caribbean, Africa and Australasia.

Expert art adviceThrough our affiliation with Christie’s International Real Estate we also have firm connections with Christie’s art business which offers you professional advice on fine art and antiques. To find out more about our affiliation please visit struttandparker.com/christies

“ Strutt & Parker and Christie’s offer a level of customer service in the UK that no other organisation can match.” Jussi Pylkkanen, President, Christie’s Europe, Middle East & Russia


PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Many of the landlords who let their properties through Strutt & Parker also choose to use the services of our property management team. As well as saving you the headache of managing your property, with all the time and administration that goes with it, there are wider benefits. In our experience, having a professional management team in place tends to attract high-quality tenants who are prepared to pay more for a property and, due to the responsive service they receive, are more likely to renew at the end of their tenancy.

Individual attentionWe take a very hands-on approach to property management, giving our people a limited portfolio to look after so they are able to get to know each property and its owner’s requirements thoroughly. You will have a personal property manager assigned to your property from the start who will work closely with you from day one. As your main point of contact, they will be readily available by phone or email and will be able to respond to you and your tenants quickly and efficiently. They will also be backed by our internal support team and a range of 24-hour external contractors.

Before the tenancy Your personal property manager can be involved even before your tenants move in. At this stage, their focus will be on visiting the property and checking that all the practical and legal requirements for a tenancy have been met. They will be able to identify what needs to be done to make sure, once a tenant has been found, that the tenancy can proceed without any hitches.

If you are having any renovations carried out prior to the tenancy starting, your personal property manager will be able to handle every aspect of the project, from sourcing quotes to making sure contractors have access to the property.

Whether you have a major project to carry out or just need ongoing maintenance, you can take advantage of our network of trusted contractors which we have built up over the years. From builders and gardeners to glaziers, locksmiths and alarm technicians, we interview and reference all of our approved contractors and insist on accreditations and full insurance. This ensures you can rely on the highest standard of workmanship, a fast response and rates that are quoted up front.

“ Can I take this opportunity to mention I am really impressed with you and your team! I think you definitely stand out from other agents, primarily because your levels of professionalism are so high. Keep it up – it’s worth it!”

During the tenancyOnce a tenancy is up and running, we have a policy of visiting a property at least twice a year to check that everything is running smoothly. In practical terms, our handling of day-to-day issues means we will visit much more often than that. During the tenancy, we will handle all the administration and finances related to the property. We will collect the rent, informing you of any late payment issues, and take our fees from each instalment, rather than as one large up front payment. Any invoices, service charges and utility bills can be paid from rental income and we also produce landlord statements which can be copied to your accountant for your end-of-year return.

At the end of the tenancyTowards the end of a tenancy, we can arrange any maintenance work that is required at your property and also handle the deposit and dilapidation negotiations. If you are re-letting, we can bring in our lettings team for an up-to-date marketing assessment to ensure you are maximising the rental potential. If you have decided to sell, on the other hand, we can put you in touch with our sales teams.

For an overview of the lettings process, please refer to the Step-by-step Guide to Letting Property in London.

PRESENTATION TIPS

Initial impressionsFront garden – neat with grass cut and borders weeded, trellis and fencing in good condition.

Exterior paintwork – fresh, not peeling.

Windows – clean.

Front door – traditional colour, fresh paint, shiny door furniture.

Communal areas – tidy, clean, neutral, all light bulbs working.

Interior Neutral tones throughout – from walls to carpets and curtains.

Furniture (if furnished) – in good condition, using a contemporary, neutral style and avoid over-furnishing.

Kitchens – integrated white goods plus ideally USA-size fridge freezer, full-size dishwasher, granite/stone work surfaces, stainless steel hob (gas 5 ring ideally) and oven. High-end properties need integrated microwaves, coffee makers, large ovens and separate utility rooms.

Bathrooms – chrome fixtures and fittings, separate large walk-in showers/power showers and extensive storage. Master bathrooms should have two basins. No carpet in bathrooms or cloakrooms.

Finishing touchesFresh flowers.

Hand soap/moisturiser in bathrooms.

A few picture frames.

Smart coffee table books.

Fresh smelling throughout.

As well as helping you to let your property, Strutt & Parker has a range of specialist expertise, from residential sales to commercial property, from the city to the country. These are our other core property services:

– Residential Sales– Professional Valuations – for Enfranchisement

& Lease Extension– Residential & Commercial Development– Commercial– Land Management– Farming– Planning– Building Surveying – Resources & Energy– International Network

MORE THAN JUST LONDON RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS

If you’d like to know more about any of our services, visit struttandparker.com or contact us at one of the offices overleaf.

Our offices across the UKBanburyBanchoryCambridgeCanterburyChelmsfordChesterChichesterCirencesterEdinburghExeterFarnhamGuildfordHarpendenHarrogateHaslemereHorshamInverness

IpswichLewesLudlowMarket HarboroughMoreton-in-MarshMorpethNewburyNorthallertonNorwichOdihamPangbourneSalisburySevenoaksShrewsburySt AlbansStamfordWinchester


2 million acres of land managed across the UK

800 staff across the UK

Top 10in all our areas of commercial specialism


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Warwick Way

S Eaton Pl

Ladbroke Grove

Ladbroke Grove

St Quintin Ave

Westbourne Park Rd

Harrow Rd

Harrow Rd

Shirland Rd

Shirland Rd

Inverness Terrace

Queensw

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Kensington Park Rd

Kensington C

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Earls Ct R

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N End Rd

N End R

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Harwood Rd

Pont St

Eccleston St Belgrave Rd

Piccad

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Park Rd

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Lisson Grove Seym

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Victoria St

Millb

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Marsham

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Silverthorne Rd North St

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Gow

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Bow St

Lower Richmond Rd

Westway

Westway Harrow Rd

Marylebone Rd

Euston Rd

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Holland Rd

Warwick Rd

F

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Ch e yne Walk

C

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Grosvenor Rd

Vauxhall Bridge Rd

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Earls Ct Rd

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Edith Grove

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Warwick Way

S Eaton Pl

Ladbroke Grove

Ladbroke Grove

St Quintin Ave

Westbourne Park Rd

Harrow Rd

Harrow Rd

Shirland Rd

Shirland Rd

Inverness Terrace

Queensw

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Kensington Park Rd

Kensington C

hurch St

Earls Ct R

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N End Rd

N End R

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Harwood Rd

Pont St

Eccleston St Belgrave Rd

Piccad

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Park Rd

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Lisson Grove Seym

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Clap

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Lower Richmond Rd

Westway

Westway Harrow Rd

Marylebone Rd

Euston Rd

W C

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Holland Rd

Warwick Rd

F

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Ch e yne Walk

C

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Grosvenor Rd

Vauxhall Bridge Rd

St John’s W

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Susse

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Portland P

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Re g e nt St

Hammersmith Flyover Talgarth Rd West Cromwell Rd

Cromwell Rd

Brompton R

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Holland Park Ave

Notting Hill Gate

Bayswater Rd

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Hammersmith Rd

Kensington Rd

Kensington Rd Knightsbridge

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Addison Rd Warw

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Earls Ct Rd

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Edith Grove

Wigmore St

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Chepstow

Rd

Westbourne Grove

John

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Hyde Park

Regent’s Park

BatterseaPark

HurlinghamPark

South Park

Parsons Green

Eel BrookCommon

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Battersea

RoyalHospital

BuckinghamPalace Gardens

Green Park St James’sPark

Holland Park

WestKensington

Bishop’sPark

10

MAYFAIR

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If you have a property to let in one of London’s prime central locations, we would be delighted to help you.

TALK TO THE LONDON TEAM

Chelsea & South Kensington (Sales)43 Cadogan Street, London SW3 2PRTel: 020 7225 [email protected]

Chelsea & South Kensington (Lettings)33 Cadogan Street, London SW3 2PPTel: 020 7589 9966chelsea.lettings@ struttandparker.com

Fulham & Parsons Green (Sales & Lettings)701 Fulham Road, London SW6 5ULTel: 020 7731 [email protected]

Kensington & Holland Park (Sales)103 Kensington Church Street, London W8 7LNTel: 020 7938 [email protected]

Kensington & Holland Park (Lettings)104 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BUTel: 020 7938 3866kensington.lettings@ struttandparker.com

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Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Pimlico & Mayfair (Sales & Lettings)66 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9SHTel: 020 7235 [email protected]

Chelsea SW10, South Kensington & Earls Court(Sales & Lettings)140 Fulham Road, London SW10 9PYTel: 020 7373 [email protected]

Notting Hill & Bayswater(Sales & Lettings)303 Westbourne Grove,London W11 2QATel: 020 7221 [email protected]

Central London Property Management35 Cadogan Street, London SW3 2PRTel: 020 7052 9417propertymanagement@ struttandparker.com

Mayfair – Head Office13 Hill Street, London W1J 5LQTel: 020 7629 7282 [email protected]

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Information in this document is correct at the time of going to print and is subject to change.

TALK TO THE LONDON TEAM

Residential Sales & LettingsResidential DevelopmentValuation & Enfranchisement ServicesCommercial PropertyFarming & EstatesLand ManagementResources & Energy

struttandparker.com

London Residential THE LONDON LETTINGS...

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