Marsdens Property Management specialise in letting and managing good quality residential properties throughout North Devon. We handle small one-bedroom flats to large four/five bedroom detached family homes. All properties should be in good, clean decorative order, as better-equipped properties will attract better quality tenants. We provide skilled and experienced staff, advice and expertise, and offer a professional service treating each property as if it were our own.

Advice

Prior to the commencement of a proposed tenancy, we will inspect your property and advise you on any improvements or additions that may be necessary to the property and its contents. In particular we will advise you of your responsibilities with regard to current legislation concerning furniture, electrical equipment and gas appliances, and we will require your commitment to adhere to all current legislation. We will agree with you a rent to be quoted to potential tenants and this will include all payments for which you are responsible including insurance premiums, ground rent and service charges. The tenant will be responsible for electricity, gas, council tax, water rates, telephone charges and the cost of a TV licence.

Marketing

Our fees include all expenses incurred in marketing your property and any other expenses incurred in finding a suitable tenant. We advertise extensively in the local press to find the most suitable tenant for your property and will take up a minimum of three references including present employer, previous landlord or character reference and a credit check giving details of a tenant's financial status. We will obtain your approval to proceed before drawing up the tenancy agreement.

Letting Service

Our commission includes finding suitable tenants, obtaining satisfactory references notifying all of the public utilities of the change of occupation and then collecting the rent each month and paying this directly into your bank or building society accounts.

Management Service

In addition to our letting service, we provide a comprehensive Management Service particularly suitable for absentee and overseas landlords. This service includes all of our letting service as detailed above and in addition we undertake the following duties:

• Inspections
  We carry out quarterly inspections of the property and copies of our reports will be forwarded on to you by fax, post or email. We will also attend the property at the request of the tenant in order to investigate any defects. It should be appreciated that any such inspection and assessment of these defects which are brought to our notice can only extend to apparent and obvious defects and that such inspection would not amount in any way to a structural survey of the property. We cannot accept responsibility for hidden or latent defects and a full check of the inventory will not be undertaken until the end of the tenancy.
  
  
• Repairs & Replacements
  The Management Service includes the investigation of defects which come to our notice or which are properly brought to our attention by the tenant. Repairs and replacements may be necessary and wherever possible estimates will be obtained and submitted to you for approval, however, we will deal with emergencies immediately and without reference to you and arrange for minor repairs and replacements up to a value of £150 per item.

Change of Tenant

If during our management there is a change of tenant, we will arrange any cleaning and minor repairs to the property payable from the dilapidations deposit or from the landlord's account. Our Management Service does not include the supervision of the property when it is not let, although in the normal course of letting periodic visits may be made to the property by our staff. If you wish your property to be managed during a void period please let us know so that we may put forward a proposal to you.

Deposit & Inventories & Schedule of Condition

All tenants will pay a deposit equal to one months rent. As required in the Housing Act 2004 the deposit will be held in a Government approved scheme in accordance with their terms of business.

Marsdens Property Management will undertake to provide a comprehensive inventory of the entire contents of your property together with a schedule of condition of the interior of the property, detailing the decorative condition of the ceilings, walls, paintwork, glazing, floors, fixtures and fittings. These schedules form part of the tenancy agreement and any discrepancies or dilapidations to them at the end of the tenancy will be costed by Marsdens and agreements reached between landlord and tenant with the cost to be paid from the deposit. If agreement cannot be reached the matter will be referred to the Arbitration service as required in the aforementioned Act.

Tenancy Agreements

Marsdens Property Management can provide tenancy agreements for all types of tenancies tailored to a landlord's specific requirements. The agreements conform to all current legislation and are verified by prominent solicitors. All necessary statutory notices are included.

Insurance

It is imperative that your property is fully insured together with the contents, and as the insurance market becomes specialised some direct access insurers do not wish to provide cover on rental properties. We have access to a reputable, well known insurer who can provide substantial cover including £2 million public liability, from whom we get preferential rates.

Tax

Rental income is treated as unearned income, so it will be necessary for you to complete a self-assessment form each year. There are certain expenses that can be offset against the income, such as agency fees, repairs and mortgage interest. Tax affairs can be complicated, so we always recommend that specific advise be sought from an accountant.

Further information

We would be very pleased to inspect any property that you are considering purchasing and give advise as to its suitability for letting.

We produce a landlord's handbook, which gives further information on matters including our services, legislation, tenant referencing and tax. If you would like us to send you a copy please contact us on 01271 813711 or email us at let@northdevonlets.co.uk