Lettings Guide
A guide to letting property
Step by step guide of useful information for letting property with Astley & Co.
Market Valuation
Astley & Co will visit your property to assess its value, what rent can be achieved, discuss marketing strategy, fees and terms of business.
Going on the Market
We will need to agree on the marketing rent for your property and sign our agency agreement. We will then take photos and measurements to begin marketing. An Energy performance certificate (EPC) is a certificate that shows in detail the energy performance of a building and is a legal requirement whether you are selling or letting. You will need an annual gas safety check certificate and an electrical certificate and this needs to be updated every five years.
Marketing
Astley & Co will advertise your property extensively. We advertise on the major property portals, social media, and our own website www.astleyandco.com The To Let Board will be erected and your property will be displayed in our illuminated office window displays.
Viewings
Prospective tenants will view your property by appointment through us. We will ensure the property is presentable before every viewing. We call it ‘viewing ready’. First impressions really do count, with most tenants forming an opinion within the first 15 seconds upon entering.
Applicants
We will ask the prospective tenant to complete a detailed application form. We may have more than one applicant to consider for your property and will send out forms to every interested party. Once we have all applications in, we will put forward to you our recommendations. Once we have agreed on the strongest applicant, we will start to process with references, credit checks and the right to rent legality.
Tenancy Portal
Our software allows the tenant their own tenancy portal and provides access to upload their documents. Once these documents have been verified and the relevant credit checks and references complied with, we will ask for the deposit to secure the property. This is immediately paid over to the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) and at the same time we will prepare the Assured Shorthold Tenancy for signature.
Legal Documents
We then send all the legal documents required to the tenant including the How to Rent Guide, Prescribed Information, DPS Certificate, EPC, Gas and Electric Certificates.
At some point before the tenant takes possession, we prepare the inventory with extensive photographs. These are sent to the tenant; the landlord and a copy is kept with us.
On the moving-in day, after we have received the rent payable in advance and when keys are handed over, we take meter readings and set them up with all the relevant contact details.
On the moving-in day, after we have received the rent payable in advance and when keys are handed over, we take meter readings and set them up with all the relevant contact details.
Inventory
At some point before the tenant takes possession, we prepare the inventory with extensive photographs and video coverage. These are sent to the tenant; the landlord and a copy is kept with us.
Handover
On the moving-in day, after we have received the rent payable in advance and when keys are handed over, we take meter readings and set them up with all the relevant contact details.
Congratulations your property is successfully Let!