If you are a private landlord you need to read this by Tony Ourris

7th August 2022

Managing a portfolio of properties or even just one can bring about many challenges for landlords.

Dealing with tenants, repairs and maintenance obligations and rent collection, never mind what appears to be a never-ending amount of new legislation means managing property can be very stressful.

Many landlords opt to self-manage their rental properties, in theory, saving a monthly management fee and therefore getting to keep more of the rent for themselves, but is it worth it? You only need to read Fariz’s article on page 12 of our summer magazine to learn how one landlord is £15,000 out of pocket for not fulfilling their legal obligations.

There are many benefits to using an experienced agent such as Anthony Webb, these include:

Great marketing
An established agent will already have a database of tenants looking to rent in the area. Our marketing strategies reduces unnecessary voids and our team accompany all viewings, at times to suit the applicant, and will liaise with existing tenants to secure access.

Securing better tenants
A bad tenant is every landlord’s worst nightmare. Prospective tenants can often appear to be extremely honest and trustworthy, but these first impressions can be very deceptive. We check references and provide a full credit check for all potential tenants including address verification. This can help to uncover any past issues regarding rent arrears or poor credit which may not come to light otherwise.

Quicker and easier maintenance
As managing agents, your tenants can contact us with any issues they have, 365 days a year. We used trusted contractors who deal with maintenance and repairs quickly and efficiently. Attending to repairs quickly helps to maintain a good relationship with tenants which is always preferable for a trouble-free tenancy.

Looking after your legal obligations
Legal problems with your property can cause all sorts of difficulties. Getting things wrong can make it difficult for you to gain possession of your property and/or risk a substantial fine. Rules, for example, mean that landlords must; have an EPC rating of E or above, protect deposits using a government approved scheme, have a valid EICR and Gas Safety certificate, have a valid license (where applicable) and fulfil over 160 pieces of legislation.  A management company can ensure you’re complying with all your obligations and make sure you are aware of any upcoming changes to law which will affect your property.

Maximising your return
We ensure that your property is marketed at the correct price and that property inspections are carried out regularly throughout a tenancy alongside annual rent reviews.

Rental prices are rising in our area, to find out more about our services or to get an up to date rental valuation please contact our friendly team on 020 8882 7888