Property Search

Landlords Property Services Newcastle upon Tyne

Since opening in 1995 Bowson Lettings has established a reputation as a leading dedicated letting agency.

Coupling top quality professional service to property investors and independent landlords, with in-depth local knowledge and dedicated service you only get from a forward thinking, locally-based business Bowson Lettings are proud to be of service to you.

Our aim is to remove the pressures of letting property from you.

Whether your property is large or small, old or new, located in the town or country, our marketing will efficiently secure a suitable tenant, to provide the maximum return for your investment.
We appreciate your property is an asset and the need to maintain that asset is also our priority. Our Managed Property Coordinators will liaise with tried and tested contractors, to enable us to effectively maintain your property.

The following is a brief outline of options and services available to you:

• Tenant find service
• Full management service

For more details about our service or to arrange a free market appraisal please use and submit the form below

Landlords Information

This service is suitable for Landlords who do not reside locally, those who would rather not deal directly with Tenants, or for those who do not have the time to effectively manage the tenants and the tenancy. Engaging Bowson Lettings as managing agents of your residential property relieves you from many of the day-to-day issues associated with letting properties - We are experienced at providing cost effective management of tenants and tenancies, and as appropriate, arranging property maintenance, repairs and replacements.

Our Full Management includes;

• Visiting you at your property, providing a rental valuation and giving advice as required.
• Marketing your property. With continued high levels customer service we have a high number of tenant registration from companies, relocation agencies and general enquiries and usually have a range of quality tenants waiting. We also undertake advertising as necessary. For example. Print media: local papers, leaflets, traditional flag boards and yellow pages. Online directories: yell.com and various other leading web sites, including our own comprehensive website, and other search engines.
• Selecting suitable tenants for your property and accompanying prospective tenant applicants to view the property, leading to the introduction and vetting of a prospective tenant, dealing with negotiations.
• Obtaining and evaluating references, credit and identification checks as appropriate. This proving satisfactory, we will then go ahead and prepare an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement and Inventory.
• Sign on behalf of the Landlord and arrange signature of the Tenancy Agreement with the Tenant.
• Collecting the first advance rental and security deposit from the tenant. These will be transferred to the Landlord less our agreed fee.
• Tenant check-in. We advise tenants on how to operate appliances and ensure tenants are aware of their responsibilities such as window cleaning and gardening.
• Arranging with the tenant a prepared standing order mandate for processing of future rental payments.
• Advising and assisting in the transfer of gas, electricity, water and council accounts into the tenant’s name.
• Providing the Tenants with contact details for the relevant utility companies and the opening meter readings taken on the day of the check-in, information regarding and any other relevant information following the check-in.

PLUS

• The Tenants Security Deposit will be held by The Deposit Protection Service.
  
• We will keep all original tenancy documentation and provide you with copies for your records if requested.
• Unless instructed to the contrary, Landlords contact details will not be given to tenants.
• Automatic renewal of CP12 gas safety certificates when they become due.Collecting and processing of rental payments payable by the tenant monthly in advance, crediting your nominated bank account (less our agreed monthly management fee and any maintenance costs) and sending you a detailed rental statement on a monthly basis.
• Dealing with rent arrears in an appropriate manner within the confines of our Management Agreement and the tenancy agreement.
• During the tenancy carrying out periodic property visits to monitor the condition of the property and the performance of the tenant in accordance with their contractual obligations, sending you a full report of our findings.
• We will arrange any necessary day to day repairs to the property or contents. Maintenance of the property throughout the tenancy and at the end of a tenancy using qualified, insured tradesmen from our approved list.
• Two months prior to the end of the tenancy, we will liaise with the Tenant and Landlord regarding a renewal of the tenancy or arrange to check them out as applicable.
• Establishing renewal notification with the Tenant 2 months prior to the end of the tenancy to allow as much time as possible to re-market.
• If the tenant is not renewing we will re-advertise the property for re-letting and continue the process with the minimum of vacant periods to ensure that you receive the optimum return from your property.
• Year End Income & Expense Account

 

Quick Reference Guide

Insurance

You should ensure that you are suitably covered for letting under both your buildings and contents insurance. Failure to inform your insurers may invalidate your policies.

Council tax and utility accounts

We will arrange for the transfer of Council Tax and utility accounts to the Tenant. Meter readings will be taken, allowing your final gas and electricity accounts to be drawn up. All these matters we will handle for you, however British Telecom, Sky and other suppliers of digital TV will require instructions directly from both the Landlord and the Tenant.

Income tax

When resident in the UK, it is entirely the Landlords responsibility to inform the Inland Revenue of rental income received, and to pay any tax due. Where the Landlord is resident outside the UK during a tenancy, under rules effective from 6 April 1996, unless an exemption certificate is held, we as Landlord's Agent are obliged to retain and forward to the Inland Revenue on a quarterly basis, an amount equal to the basic rate of income tax from rental received, less certain expenses. An application form for exemption from such deductions is available from this Agency, and further information may be obtained from the Inland Revenue.

The inventory

It is most important that full inventory of contents and schedule of condition be prepared, in order to avoid misunderstanding or dispute at the end of a tenancy. Without such safeguards, it will be impossible for the Landlord to prove any loss, damage, or significant deterioration of the property or contents. This service includes the use of digital photography, with images of the property and contents stored on our property management files. Due to the amount of detail required there is a charge for initially creating the inventory however we update the inventory within our management service for each subsequent tenancy for the duration of the management.

Safety Regulations

The following requirements are the responsibility of the Landlord. Where you have signed our Full Management Agency Agreement, they are also our responsibility. Therefore where we are managing your property we will need to ensure compliance.

Health and Safety – Gas Annual safety check

Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 provide that all gas appliances and flues in rented accommodation must be checked for safety within 12 months of being installed, and thereafter at least every 12 months by a competent CORGI registered gas engineer
Health and Safety - Electrical
Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and The Plugs and Sockets (Safety) Regulations 1994 provide that electrical appliances, consumer units, electrical plugs, sockets and appliances provided in tenanted premises must be safe. A visual safety check and assessment is carried out by our inventory clerk when preparing the inventory and schedule of condition and recommendations may be made during this check to ensure compliance with the above regulations.

Consumer Protection - Fire

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989 & 1993) provide that specified items supplied in the course of letting property must meet minimum fire resistance standards.

The regulations apply to all upholstered furniture, beds, headboards and mattresses, sofa-beds, futons and other convertibles, nursery furniture, garden furniture suitable for use in a dwelling, scatter cushions, pillows and non-original covers for furniture.

However, the regulations do not apply to bedcovers including duvets, loose covers for mattresses, pillow cases, curtains, carpets, or to antique furniture (furniture made before 1950).
Items of furniture or furnishing purchased since 1st March 1990 will automatically comply with regulations providing they have a suitable permanent label attached or the receipt is kept.
All Non-compliant items must be removed before a tenancy commences.

Smoke Alarms

All properties built since June 1992 must have been fitted with mains powered smoke detection alarms.

Preparing the Property for Letting

It is our job to ensure a good relationship with Tenants to contribute to a smooth-running tenancy. It follows therefore that a well maintained property in a good decorative order will go towards achieving a higher rent and that the tenants are more inclined to treat such a property with greater respect.

General Condition

Electrical, gas plumbing, waste, central heating and hot water systems must be safe, sound and in good working order. Repairs and maintenance are at the Landlords expense unless misuse can be established. Interior decorations should be in good condition and preferably plain, light and neutral.

Furnishings

It is recommended that you leave only minimum furnishings and these should be of reasonable quality. It is preferable that items to be left are in the property during viewings. We would suggest the following for an unfurnished property:

Flooring such as carpet / laminate flooring in bedrooms and receptions rooms, Lino or ceramic floor tiles in bathrooms / kitchens, curtains or blinds on each window with suitable fittings. Cooker, hob, cooker hood in the kitchen although for a 1 or 2 bedroom property especially flats or apartments we would recommend you also provide a fridge/freezer and washing machine or washer / dryer.
To avoid Tenants requesting permission to drill holes into your walls, other items that should be provided include bathroom fittings such as fixed wall mirror, toilet roll holder, towel rail, shelving in airing cupboards / storage cupboards, coat hooks in entrance halls.

As Tenants often request to put up their own pictures, we also advise that a few picture hooks are fitted throughout the property. This will also help to avoid unsightly nails and wall plugs appearing during the course of the tenancy.

Personal items, ornaments etc.

All cupboards and shelf space should be left clear for the Tenant's own use.
Personal possessions, ornaments, pictures, books etc. should be removed from the premises, especially those of real or sentimental value. Some items may be boxed, sealed and stored in the loft at the owner's risk.

Gardens

Gardens should be left neat, tidy and rubbish free, with any lawns cut. Tenants are required to maintain the gardens to a reasonable standard, provided they are left the necessary tools. However, few Tenants are experienced gardeners, and if you value your garden, or if it is particularly large, you may wish us to arrange visits by our regular gardener.

Cleaning

At the commencement of the tenancy the property must be in a thoroughly clean condition. At the end of each tenancy, taking into account fair wear and tear, it is the Tenants' responsibility to leave the property in a similar condition. Where they fail to do so, cleaning will be arranged at their expense.

Information for the Tenant

It is helpful if you leave information for the Tenant, e.g. on operating the central heating and hot water system, washing machine and alarm system, and the day refuse is collected etc.

Keys

You should provide one set of keys for each Tenant over the age of 18. Where we will be managing we will arrange to have duplicates cut as required.

Mortgage

If your property is mortgaged, you should obtain your mortgagee's written consent to the letting. They may require additional clauses in the tenancy agreement of which you must inform us.