Lettings made simple

A landlord’s guide to our stress-free letting and property management services

Tailor made solutions

Getting started

The legal essentials

Moving your tenant in

Service levels to suit you

Peace of mind

Landlord checklist

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© Trading Places

Tailor made solutions for every landlordTrading Places offer a comprehensive letting and property

management service to take the hassle out of letting your property.

S t r e s s- Fr e e L e t t i n g

© Trading Places

Professional recognition

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Expertise at your serviceAre you looking for help with finding and screening

suitable tenants? Perhaps you want the peace of mind and

convenience of a comprehensive round-the-clock letting

and property management service that takes care of

everything? Whatever level of support you need, we can

provide the service that is right for you.

We have been letting properties since the late 90’s and

our clients range from private landlords with a single rental

property to buy-to-let investment landlords with a property

portfolio.

As standard we have 5 different levels of service:

All our services can be tailored to suit your individual

needs and we will provide a written market appraisal with

absolutely no obligation.

We understand that becoming a Landlord can be a daunting

experience. Please take a look through this brochure aimed

at giving you a brief overview of what is involved when

letting a property. We have included information on a range

of legal obligations, some practical advice and a snap shot of

the services we offer.

Whether you are looking at letting your property for the

first time, seeking a new letting agent or would simply like

an informal chat without the pressure of a pushy salesman,

please get in touch.

1 Tenant Find Service

3 Letting & Rent Collection Service

2 Let Only Service

Letting and Property Management Service4

5 Letting and Property Management Plus Service

Why busy landlords choose Trading Places

Experienced, attentive and knowledgeable staff

Flexible service options, competitively priced

Open and transparent fees with no hidden charges

Up to date legal documentation and regulatory advice

Independent market appraisals and quantified rental valuations

Extensive internet advertising on the UK’s top property websites

A pre-qualified database of waiting tenants

Comprehensive tenant referencing service with credit checks

Professionally produced inventories

Client Money Protection & Professional Indemnity Insurance

Registered with the government backed Deposit Protection Service

Dedicated Property Manager (management services only)

Licenced agent & members of The Property Ombudsman Scheme

Tried & tested reliable tradesmen & specialist contractors

Run by local people who truly value their employees & clientele

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Market & Property AppraisalWe offer an independent assessment of your property

carried out in person by our experienced and qualified

Lettings Manager. This is free of charge and with absolutely

no obligation.

During our visit we will advise you of any work required to

meet regulatory requirements.

You will also receive advice on any other actions

necessary before you let the property including repairs or

refurbishment recommendations.

When setting the price it is important to properly assess

current market conditions taking into consideration similar

properties standing as direct competition to your own. We

will help you achieve the best possible price and will always

provide an achievable valuation and honest advice. Our

rental valuation will also take into account the location, size,

standard and condition of the property and whether it will be

let furnished, part furnished or unfurnished and of course the

timescale in which you require tenants to move in.

During the visit our Lettings Manager will be more than

happy to discuss the process with you in more detail and

answer all questions. If you are a first time landlord you will

have plenty of opportunity to find out more about what is

involved in letting a residential property.

Getting startedOur knowledge of the local rental market coupled with a tailored marketing strategy

will help set the correct marketing price and find you the right tenant.

We tailor our marketing

approach to the type of tenant you are

looking for to attract genuine

interest

We will need a different image as we do not have branded company cars – I like the board, perhaps a washed out image of our office can be used and another board saying Let agreed

(we should have some images on this from previous leaflet designs)

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Effective marketingAt Trading Places we use the very latest technology and

proven marketing techniques to promote our rental

properties.

We advertise on all major property websites, including

Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation. Our own website

www.tradingplacesproperty.com is fully responsive

for compatibility with smartphones and tablets, with

properties also featuring on touchscreen window displays

at the Park Lane offices for the Guild of Professional

Estate Agents.

Our online marketing activity includes social media

coverage through Facebook and Twitter, which we

supplement with our fortnightly e-magazine, e-mail

campaigns plus the option to have a To Let board. The more

exposure your property receives the wider audience you

can expect to attract, giving greater choice of tenant.

Once instructed, our proactive team of letting professionals

will immediately contact our tenant database through

telephone, e-mail and SMS text alerts. We will tailor our

marketing approach to the type of tenant you are looking for

and best suited to your property.

High Quality photography and floor plans can help promote

your property in the best possible way; however a landlord

can play their part by ensuring the property is clutter free

and by attending to any minor repairs prior to viewings

taking place. If vacant the property should also be cleaned

and the garden cut back and cultivated.

Securing the most suitable tenantAs a landlord, you need peace of mind that the right tenants

will be living in your property. All potential tenants are

pre-qualified before we carry out viewings to ensure they

are suitable. We will then accompany all viewings and

provide prompt and honest feedback by telephone or

e-mail, whichever you prefer. We will keep you up-to-date

on progress and alert you the moment a party shows an

interest in applying to rent your property.

We take up tenant references and credit checks using a

specialist referencing company and as required ensure

compliance with the “Right to Rent” regulations.

We will need a different image as we do not have branded company cars – I like the board, perhaps a washed out image of our office can be used and another board saying Let agreed

(we should have some images on this from previous leaflet designs)

S t r e s s- Fr e e L e t t i n g

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Energy Performance CertificateAll properties for rent must have an Energy Performance

Certificate (EPC) and there are timescales in which these

must be made available to prospective tenants and then

issued to proposed tenants. An EPC rates energy efficiency

and its environmental impact. If you do not have an EPC

for your property, Trading Places can arrange for one to be

carried out by a Domestic Energy Assessor.

Safety1 Gas Safety

Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations

1998, landlords have a legal obligation 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 this

for you.

2 Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2010Upholstered furniture and soft furnishings supplied in a

rented property must comply with current regulations.

This includes, but is not limited to, bed frames, mattresses,

headboards, sofabeds, pillows, cushions, seat pads and any

garden furniture that may be used indoors. Items which

comply will have a suitable permanent label attached. All

non-compliant items must be removed before a tenant

moves in. Bedding, carpets, curtains and any furniture

made before 1950 are exempt.

3 Electrical SafetyLandlords are required to ensure the electrical installations

in a rental property are safe when a tenant moves in and

maintained in a safe condition. It is strongly recommended

you employ a suitably qualified electrician to inspect

the installations (every 5 years, or sooner if their report

requires) and arrange for portable appliances to be checked

(annually). In some cases electrical checks will be a legal

requirement and/or a condition of a council licensing

scheme.

Preparing your property to let–the legal essentials Our experienced lettings team will provide the latest information and

guidance to ensure you are aware of your legal obligations as a landlord.

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4 Smoke and carbon monoxide detectorsIn October 2015 new regulations came into force requiring

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 appliance is situated. The government suggest

“responsible” landlords are expected to fit carbon monoxide

alarms even when not legally required to do so.

5 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 LetIf your property is mortgaged, you must obtain

written consent to let from your mortgage lender.

If it is leasehold, your lease may require written

consent from your landlord before you can sub-let.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)If you let to a family, they are deemed to form one household.

When you let to a group of sharers, the number of households

within the property will change and with it some requirements.

When a property is deemed a House in Multiple Occupation

(HMO), a landlord can face extra legal obligations and in certain

instances require a HMO licence. We can advise you on this.

Buildings InsuranceLandlords should ensure they have adequate building and

contents insurance cover in place. Other considerations include

Public Liability Insurance and Rent and Legal Protection.

Council inspectors look

at 29 health and safety areas during an HHSRS

inspection!

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Letting your property– moving your tenant inIt is important to ensure everything is in place for a smooth and

trouble-free start to renting out your property.

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Tenancy agreementThis sets out the rights and obligations for both Landlord

and Tenant making clear their respective responsibilities.

Most residential property is let on an Assured Shorthold

Tenancy (AST) with an initial fixed term of 12 months

a popular choice. We ensure our tenancy agreements

remain up to date with regulation changes and are carefully

designed to protect the landlord’s rights to possession and

help control tenant activities.

Inventory / Schedule of Condition An inventory provides a crucial legal reference in case

of any discrepancy or claim against a tenant’s deposit at

the end of the tenancy. They should be comprehensive

and contain photographic evidence plus a full written

description of the property including its contents, fixtures,

fittings, walls and floor coverings. Most landlords are

surprised by the level of detail on our inventories and

soon appreciate the difference between a professionally

prepared document and a simple list of contents on

a handful of pages.

Utilities & Council TaxUsually, it is the tenant’s responsibility to pay utility bills

and Council Tax. We can organise all meter readings and

arrange the transfer of water rates, gas, electricity, and

Council Tax accounts to the tenant.

Deposit protectionA deposit is paid by the tenant at the start of the tenancy to

offer the Landlord a degree of security. Since April 2007,

all Assured Shorthold Tenancies must be registered with

a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme. This must

be done within a set timeframe from receipt of the deposit

with significant penalties for non-compliance. In order to

fully comply with the legislation, deposit rules also require

the landlord to provide the tenant with certain prescribed

information.

If opting for one of our Property Management Services

we can take care of this for you. We normally collect a

deposit to the value of one month’s rental plus £100 (e.g.

the deposit for a rental of £1600 will be £1700). When

registering and protecting the deposit on your behalf,

and whilst employed as your managing agent, we will also

handle any dispute which arises at the end of the tenancy.

This will include initial negotiations with the tenant, the

preparation of the evidence to support a claim and, if

necessary, the submitting of your case to the Alternative

Dispute Resolution Service (ADR), an independent and free

alternative to court action.

Beginning the TenancyWhen the day arrives, the formality of signing and executing

the tenancy will follow the issuing of all legally required

documentation and, provided all monies have been paid

in cleared funds, the keys can be issued to the tenant. You

should provide one set to each tenant and a further set if we

are appointed to manage your property.

Our inventory provides a crucial

legal reference in case of any discrepancy or claim against a

tenant’s deposit at the end of a tenancy

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Service levels to suit you Trading Places offer landlords a choice of 5 different levels of service. The

option you choose will depend on how hands on you want to be, the amount

of time and energy you have available to manage your property investment

and tenancy and of course what you are looking for from your agent.

Perfect for the seasoned landlord who manages

their own portfolio and simply requires an agent to

market their property, conduct viewings and take up

references and credit checks.

1 Tenant Find Service (TF)

Perfect for landlords who want to be hands on, are

happy to manage the tenancy without an agent’s

advice but don’t want to take on the hassle of rent

collection.

3 Letting & Rent Collection Service (LRC)

Our most popular service, offering landlords the full benefit of our LPM service with added extras

including: Rent and Legal Protection, health checks (reviewed on a regular basis), Landlord log in area

and access to Hometrack market and property reports helping you stay in touch with property values

(usual cost direct from Hometrack £19.95 per report).

5 Letting and Property Management Plus Service (LPMP)

Perfect for landlords who want to manage the

tenancy themselves but, require the agent to take

them through to the tenancy start date, preparing the

tenancy agreement, collecting the first month’s rent,

executing the tenancy agreement and issuing the keys.

2 Let Only Service (LO)

Perfect for landlords who have limited time, or are

travelling/living overseas and want to employ an

agent to interact with the tenant, covering the day to

day management of the property without the worry

of regulation changes, property visits and managing

repairs.

4 Letting and Property Management Service (LPM)

Any level of service can be tailor-made to suit your needs; simply contact us

to discuss your requirements

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Using a licensed agent with Client Money Protection ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Independent redress via The Property Ombudsman ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Market appraisal & rental valuation ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Pre-letting advice & marketing programme ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓2D, 3D & Interactive floorplan options ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Pre-qualify tenants, accompany viewings ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Take up references and credit checks ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Inventory service available ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Draw up the tenancy agreement & collect first rental ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓“Right to Rent” & “How to Rent” compliance advice ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Rent collection, payments & statement to landlord ✓ ✓ ✓Collect, register & protect deposit with DPS ✓ ✓Council Tax and utility account transfers ✓ ✓Conduct property visits & issue written reports ✓ ✓Arrange routine servicing & maintenance ✓ ✓Arrange emergency repairs & safety checks ✓ ✓Assist with insurance claims ✓ ✓Provide licensing advice ✓ ✓Key holding service ✓ ✓Pay service charges from rent account ✓ ✓Tenancy renewal & rent review negotiations ✓ ✓Tax assistance including Non Resident Landlords ✓ ✓24 hour rent transfers ✓ ✓End of tenancy check outs & deposit handling ✓ ✓Out of hours tenant assistance ✓ ✓Preparation & serving of notices to end the tenancy ✓ ✓Initial Property Health Checks with regular reviews ✓Rent & Legal Protection ✓Landlord’s log in area ✓Hometrack market & property reports ✓

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Once your property is let the work doesn’t stop

there. Today’s tenants can be quite demanding,

expecting maximum value for their rental. Whether

it is fridge failure or a leaking shower, you can be

sure any tenant will want a swift repair, however

inconvenient the timing may be for you.

This is why our clients value our management services

where we look after any repairs and tenancy issues for

you. For your peace of mind, we also visit the property

regularly and organise any maintenance and safety

compliance checks, assuring you that your property

remains in sound condition and your legal obligations

are fulfilled.

Personal serviceYou will have your own Property Manager who will look

after every aspect of the tenancy from start to finish.

Our landlords tell us they appreciate the continuity and

accountability of a single point of contact.

Don’t forget, our Lettings Manager is on hand to answer

any questions you may have, and furthermore our entire

team are at your service to collectively deliver a range of

stress-free Letting and Property Management services.

By choosing our Letting and Property Management Plus Service you can sit back

and relax. Your dedicated Property Manager will look after everything

and keep you fully informed.

Peace of mind for busy landlords

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Landlord checklist When preparing to let your property you don’t want to overlook

something important. If you choose us to let and manage your

property we will alert you to what we need and when we need it by.

If you feel comfortable organising and managing your own tenancy,

why not use our checklist to help you. Whilst this is by no means

comprehensive it makes for a good starting point.

Ensure you have a valid energy performance certificate before any viewings

take place

Obtain consent to let from your mortgage lender and freeholder, apply for a

license if applicable and arrange suitable insurances

Check that your Gas Safety Record is up to date and provide a copy to your

new tenant before they move in

Ensure the electrical installations and portable appliances are fit for purpose

and provide copies of any certification to your tenant

Check with the local authority to see if your type of property, and the

proposed type of tenant requires a HMO licence

Ensure the tenancy agreement is current, covers all required terms &

obligations, is legally binding and signed by all parties

Prepare a comprehensive inventory and schedule of condition, with

photographic evidence

Ensure the property has adequate smoke alarms and carbon monoxide

detectors, tested and in working order

Register and protect the tenant’s deposit within the required timescale and

ensure the prescribed information is issued in full

Notify your local authority of the new tenant details for council tax

Arrange for all meter readings to be taken and the transferring of utility

accounts to the tenant

Provide each tenant with a set of keys (check newly cut keys) and keep your own

set to carry out periodic property visits

Contact HMRC with questions about self assessment, or details about their

NRL scheme if you are an overseas landlord

Agree a programme to cover health checks and reviews such as fire safety,

legionella and HHSRS

Ensure you are compliant with any current requirements under the “How to

Rent” booklet and “Right to Rent” checks

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Our clientsand what they have to say about our servicePutting customers first is what we do best – but don’t take our word for it,

read what our customers say.

All our staff undergo professional training and we regularly reward evidence of

‘excellent’ customer service.

Special mention to Kevin,

our household manager, who

managed, on a Saturday,

to get the quickest fix for a

boiler ever. We phoned him

around 11AM, as our boiler

had stopped working. By 4PM

the handyman had come and

fixed everything. I am very pleased with

the service I received, and

which I am continuing to

receive, from Jamie Gordon.

Very professional and

knowledgeable. Furthermore,

when I bought the property

6 years ago, it was through

Trading Places and the service

was again excellent. That was

the reason I went with Trading

Places for letting my property

We contacted Trading Places

in order to find a new tenant,

having seen the good reviews

on the Which Local Guide.

From the start of our experience

with Trading Places, Jamie

has been of enormous help.

He has assisted us and kept

us informed every step of the

way, as well as providing us

with useful advice. We are very

grateful for this and pleased we

chose Trading Places

view more customer reviews on the agent tracker website

www.agent-tracker.co.uk/tradingplacesgbltd-london-e111he

Very pleased with Trading places, I found them very professional and knowledgeable, Jamie got back to me very quickly regarding any questions, and even replied to me while he was on holiday K Langan, landlord

A Garcia, tenant

P Linwood, landlordM Chan, landlord

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Jamie and Rosie at

Trading Places provide an

outstanding service. I've

lived and rented in London

for nearly 10 years and in

that time I've had mixed

experiences with letting

agents and private landlords,

but these guys really stand

out from the rest for me

Trading Places have provided

a professional and efficient

service, patiently answering

the many questions I had as

a first-time landlord. They

have been friendly and reliable

and I would recommend their

services to others

Trading Places and Jamie

Gordon dealt with us very

professionally and helped us

throughout the whole process.

Jamie was on hand to explain

any concerns we had. I would

recommend Trading Places to

other landlords

Jamie and Kevin were

helpful, polite, patient and

knew what they were doing.

We feel that we have had a

good start with this agency

Prompt, friendly and

efficient. Advice prior to

lettings was helpful and we

were delighted to have let the

property within a week

J Fisher, landlord

Peter, landlord

I've recently rented a flat

through Trading Places and

they gave an excellent, friendly

service. Charges were very

reasonable and our agent

Jamie did a really good job of

taking us through the whole

process. I would definitely use

them againSam, tenant

Trading Places have always

provided an excellent

professional service, often

going above and beyond

expectations. I would

recommend them to anyone

J Hamilton, landlord

N Morris, tenant

S & V Jones, landlord

Recommended by a friend

who used Trading Places as

a tenant, excellent service all

round and pleased with the

tenants that have rented the

property.

S Owen, landlord

AS, landlord

Trading Places Estate and Letting Agents

46 Church Lane, Leytonstone, London E11 1HE

T 020 8558 1147 F 020 8556 6665

E info@tradingplacesproperty.com

www.tradingplacesproperty.com

facebook.com/TradingPlacesUK

twitter.com/tradingplacesgb