WestpineProperty Lettings & Management

‘Your Dedicated Lettings Specialist’

Landlord Information Brochure

WelcomeWelcome from all the team at Westpine

Property Lettings & Management.

Thank you for requesting our Landlord

Information Brochure - we hope that it

contains all the information you require on

the rental process and relevant legislation,

our services and how to maximise the

potential of your rental property. If you have

any further questions, please feel free to

contact our office on 01204 694121.

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87 Winter Hey Lane, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PA

T: 01204 694 121E: info@westpinelettings.comW: www.westpinelettings.com

WestpineProperty Lettings & Management

Why Westpine?Westpine is a new energetic lettings and property management agency based in the heart of Horwich, Bolton.

We operate within a 20 mile radius of our newly refurbished high street office. With strong values of honesty

and integrity, Westpine offers a wide range of transparent and flexible landlord services. We are one of the few

agents in the area specialising solely in lettings and property management, meaning our focus is not diluted by

sales. This allows us to deliver a dedicated service to our clients throughout all aspects of the rental process.

Westpine can offer you competitive prices on all our service levels, with no hidden fees. Whether you are a new

or experienced landlord, Westpine will guide you through the whole lettings process and keep you updated with

changing legislation and regulations which may affect you and your property.

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Our service is extremely efficient; making use of

the latest technologies to market your property and

attract the right tenants for you. We are happy to

tailor all our packages to suit your needs and can

offer discounts for landlords with multiple rental

properties. As a small independent agency we

offer a highly individual and friendly service. The

Westpine team set themselves extremely high

standards within the industry when it comes to

the expertise, professionalism and level of service

provided to both our landlords and tenants. With this

in mind, we operate under and are members of both

the Property Ombudsman and ARLA (Association

of Residential Letting Agents), evidencing our

confidence in offering a fair and reliable service.

Our office is open 6 days a week and out of

hours appointments are available on request to

accommodate all of our clients’ needs.

What we offer

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FREE no obligation rental valuation

FREE detailed Landlord Information Brochure

FREE practical advice on the letting process &

the presentation of your property

Attractive property particulars produced

Extensive marketing & advertising for your property

Professional ‘to let’ board if required

Arrange & conduct accompanied viewings

Arrange gas & electrical safety certificates

where required*

Arrange Energy Performance Certificate where required*

Guidance on legal regulations & legislation affecting

your property

Full tenancy negotiations undertaken

Professional & comprehensive tenant referencing

(including guarantor referencing if required)

Drafting of the tenancy agreement

Preparation of a detailed inventory & statement of

condition, including photographs

Move in & handover with tenant(s)

Collection of first months rent & deposit

Reading of meters & registration of utility accounts

for tenant(s)

Register deposit within Westpine’s DPS Account

Efficient collection and forwarding of monthly

rental payments

Monthly statement emailed or posted

Quick action against tenant(s) for rent arrears

Tenant move out inspection & deposit release negotiation

Westpine Rent Guarantee warranty available*

Negotiation and arrangement of tenancy renewals

All maintenance issues quoted, authorised and

completed by qualified contractors

Regular property inspections & full written reports forwarded

Acting as the first point of contact for tenants for all issues

*Fees may apply

LET ONLY

W E S T P I N E PA C K A G E S

SERVICES INCLUDE: FULLMANAGEMENT

RENTCOLLECTION

Advertise only packageWe can also offer an ‘Advertise Only’ package for a small upfront fee of £149, intended for landlords

who prefer a more hands on approach. Our Advertise Only service includes:

4 FREE rental valuation for your property if required

4 A detailed property brochure produced

4 Advertise your property on: Rightmove www.westpinelettings.com Our attractive window and office displays Our LCD TV in the window of our high street office Periodically in the local newspaper Our Facebook & Twitter sites

4 A professional ‘to let’ board erected outside your property

4 All details of interested parties passed directly to you via email, text or telephone

4 Full applicant referencing for your tenants

For further details on this package, please contact our office on 01204 694121.

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Our services explained

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PROFESSIONAL ADVICEWhether you are a new or experienced landlord,

Westpine will guide you through the whole lettings

process and keep you updated with changing legislation

which may affect you. All staff have professional

qualifications in Letting & Property Management,

allowing you to rest assured that your property is in the

hands of a capable team.

ADVERTISING & MARKETINGWe utilise the latest technologies to market your

property and attract the right tenants for you. Having

instructed us to market your rental property, Westpine

will produce an attractive property brochure. This will be

displayed in our office, on our website, online property

portals & circulated to potential tenants on our mailing

list. Your property will also be featured on an LCD TV

positioned in our high street office window and may

also be advertised in the local newspaper periodically.

An eye catching ‘to let’ board can be erected outside

your property.

SECURING SUITABLE TENANTS AND REFERENCINGUpon receiving interest in your property, Westpine

will arrange accompanied viewings with any suitable

parties. We offer flexible out of hours appointments,

including evening and weekend viewings, to ensure

that your property is seen by interested applicants as

early as possible. Once a tenant for your property has

been found, full comprehensive referencing will be

undertaken by a professional referencing company.

References will include a full credit check, affordability

check, employer and previous landlord references.

A full report will then be sent to Westpine for us to

evaluate. This ensures that Westpine only provide

quality tenants with viable references.

DEPOSITSA holding deposit, normally £100, is taken from the

potential tenant on application for the property. As part

of our Terms of Application, if the tenant decides to

withdraw from the property, or doesn’t go ahead with

the tenancy, this holding deposit is forwarded onto

you. If the tenancy proceeds, the remainder of the full

deposit (normally one month’s rent equivalent) will be

paid by the tenant on their move in date. Under our

Rent Collection or Full Management service, Westpine

will register the deposit with the DPS. For our Let Only

service, you must set up an account with the DPS and

register the deposit yourself to ensure you are abiding

by deposit regulations.

INVENTORY & SCHEDULE OF CONDITIONAs standard for all our service levels, Westpine will

complete a full inspection of your property to compile

an accurate property inventory. The written report

is also backed up with photographic evidence. An

inventory and schedule of condition is of importance

for any tenancy, as it is heavily relied upon when the

tenant vacates the property to judge the return of the

deposit to the tenant.

TRANSFER OF UTILITIESWe manage all aspects of transferring the utilities over

to the new tenants. Meter readings are taken on the

day of tenant move in and the accounts set up for the

tenants with all the appropriate utility companies and

the local council.

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RENTAL PAYMENTSFor our Rent Collection & Full Management service

levels, Westpine are responsible for collecting the

monthly rental payment from your tenants. These

monies are transferred into your nominated bank

account within 4 days of cleared funds in our client

bank account. You will receive a monthly statement

for your records. If you decide to opt for our Let Only

service level, you will be responsible for collecting the

rent from your tenant following the first month.

WESTPINE RENTAL GUARANTEEFor all our Rent Collection or Full Management

landlords, Westpine is able to offer an add-on of our

Rental Guarantee Warranty for a small additional

charge. Our warranty allows us to guarantee that you

will receive the rent on your property whilst a tenant is

in occupation, even if the tenant defaults on their rental

payments.

INSPECTIONSAs part of our Full Management service, regular

property inspections are carried out during tenant

occupancy. As standard a minimum of 3 inspections

are completed per annum, although the regularity will

be increased if required. The inspection report will be

sent to you to make you aware of our findings and any

action we may have taken if necessary.

MAINTENANCE & REPAIRSUnder our Full Management service, all maintenance

& repair issues are dealt with directly by Westpine.

If a maintenance issue occurs, we will arrange for a

quote to be obtained via one of our approved local

contractors and will liaise with your tenant to arrange

a mutually convenient time for a contractor to visit. We

will communicate fully with you and discuss how you

would like us to proceed. All invoices for authorised

works completed will be deducted from the next

available rent for your property, unless an alternative

payment method is preferred. Your tenant will benefit

from Westpine’s out of hours contact number for any

emergencies.

TENANCY RENEWALSFor landlords who opt for our Rent Collection or Full

Management service, Westpine will orchestrate and

arrange all tenancy renewals. Westpine will contact

your current tenant(s) within the final month of their fixed

term tenancy to discuss their intentions going forward.

Westpine will negotiate a tenancy renewal FREE OF

CHARGE, which includes drafting up a new agreement

and arranging an appointment for the tenants to sign.

We can also offer this service to Let Only landlords for

a small fee.

Preparing your propertyfor the rental market

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Ensuring your property is well presented and prepared

for the rental market is key to maximising your property’s

potential and achieving a speedy let with high quality

tenants. First impressions count for everything when

potential tenants are viewing your property, so it is

important that it is looking its very best from the start.

We tend to find that tenants treat the property with more

respect if they receive it in a good decorative and clean

condition. With this in mind, Westpine have put together

a range of recommendations for how best to present

your rental property.

CLEAN AND TIDY CONDITIONEnsuring your property is maintained in a clean and tidy

condition ready for a new tenant is essential. Reduce

personal clutter from the property as much as possible

to allow viewers to imagine themselves living there. Pay

attention to the cleanliness of kitchen appliances,

bathrooms and carpets - consider having these

professionally cleaned if you do not have the time

to clean these yourself. Ensure that the garden, if

applicable, is presented in a tidy condition which will be

low-maintenance for any incoming tenants.

PLEASANT SMELLAllow the property to be circulated with plenty of fresh

air to ensure it smells fresh. Consider using plug in air

fresheners in subtle fragrances to give a welcoming feel.

DECORATING A coat of fresh paint should not be underestimated

when attracting a high calibre tenant. We recommend

using neutral welcoming colours wherever possible so

as to not limit the number of interested viewers with

daring colours.

Preparing your propertyfor the rental market

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LONG TERM OPTIONSEnsuring your property is set up for the future is

extremely wise and may save you money in the long

term. Consider the following options to help attract

suitable tenants for your property.

INCREASING ENERGY EFFICIENCY The use of low energy lighting, loft insulation and

double glazed windows will improve the properties

energy efficiency rating. With utility costs continually

rising, the running costs of the property is becoming an

increasingly important factor taken into consideration

by tenants when deciding which property to rent.

Your property’s efficiency is highlighted on the Energy

Performance Certificate provided to all viewers.

RE-FLOORINGUpgrading your property with a new floor can give a

‘new home’ impression to tenants. Consider the use

of a high quality laminate downstairs and a neutral

coloured carpet upstairs. If re-flooring is not suitable

for you or your property, it is recommended that you

have the carpets professionally cleaned prior to the

commencement of a tenancy. If you opt to do so, each

tenant must leave the carpets in the same condition

(less any fair wear and tear) upon their departure ready

for remarketing the property.

HEATING AND HOT WATER SYSTEMSWith boiler breakdowns a major worry to tenants,

the installation of a new boiler/hot water system can

increase your chances of obtaining a reputable tenant

for your property. A new system may also save you

money on repair costs in the long run.

Your legal obligations

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BUILDING & CONTENTS INSURANCEAs owner of the property, you will be responsible for

ensuring buildings insurance is in place prior to the

commencement of a tenancy. If you are considering

renting the property part/fully furnished, you should

arrange for adequate contents insurance. Most

contents policies also include an element of public

liability cover. The policy must be renewed when

required and insurance companies must be notified

that the property is to be let.

GAS SAFETY CERTIFICATEUnder the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations

1998 it is a legal requirement that the landlord ensures

that all gas appliances and pipework are checked for

safety by a Gas Safe registered engineer each year.

A copy of a valid Landlord Gas Safety certificate

must be provided to Westpine and the tenant prior to

commencement of the tenancy and renewed every

twelve months. Records of the checks must be kept.

ELECTRICAL CHECKSUnder the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations

1994 it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that

all electrics in the property are safe and will not cause

harm. Regular electrical checks are not mandatory but

we strongly recommend that you consider having an

electrical safety check and portable appliance testing

(P.A.T) completed periodically to show evidence of

your due diligence towards electrical safety.

FURNITURE & FURNISHINGSIt is an offence to let a property with any furniture or

soft furnishing that do not comply with the Furniture &

Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, amended

in 1993. Westpine require that all necessary furniture

and furnishings have a fire safety label attached.

ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATESince October 2008, landlords have a legal obligation

to provide prospective tenants with a valid Energy

Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC provides

you and the tenants with information on the energy

usage and CO2 emissions of your property, as well

as recommendations for improvement. An accredited

domestic energy assessor or home inspector must

complete the EPC and issue the report. Certificates are

valid for ten years and are mandatory prior to marketing

your property to let.

TAXRental income is assessable to income tax and you

should notify the Inland Revenue that you intend to let

the property and complete a tax return when required.

For landlords who reside overseas for more than 6

months in a year, you must obtain a code from the

Inland Revenue to allow Westpine to pay your rental

income direct to you without deducting UK tax. Without

this code, Westpine have a statutory obligation to

deduct basic rate tax from the net rent income.

SMOKE DETECTORSSince June 1992 the Building Regulations 1991 require

that all properties built have mains operated smoke

detectors installed on each floor. Properties built prior

to June 1992 are not covered by the regulations but

Westpine strongly recommend that smoke detectors

are fitted in rental properties and checked regularly to

ensure they are in full working order.

MORTGAGE & LEASEHOLDIf you have a mortgage on the rental property, you must

obtain consent from your lender prior to letting. If you

hold the property on a long leasehold basis, you should

seek consent from the head-landlord prior to subletting.

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WestpineProperty Lettings & Management

‘Your Dedicated Lettings Specialist’

87 Winter Hey Lane, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PA T: 01204 694 121

E: info@westpinelettings.comW: www.westpinelettings.com