Home > Private Landlord Service > Silver Package > Silver Package Details
 

The following services are provided with the SILVER & GOLD packages.

 

Tenancy deposit scheme

Under the Tenancy Deposit Protection legislation all landlords and letting agents taking deposits for assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales must protect the deposit within a Government approved tenancy-deposit protection scheme.

St. Leger Homes are using The Deposit Protection Scheme. The scheme provides a free dispute resolution service should there be any dispute regarding the return of the deposit. Under the The Deposit Protection Scheme the tenant pays the deposit to the agent.

 

Repairs service

St. Leger Homes has its own dedicated repairs team. As a landlord you must pay for any repairs that need to be done by law. However, if the tenant has caused the damage, we will charge them the cost of the repair. We will provide you with invoices to enable you to claim back any VAT on your expenses, such as the cost of our services.

 

Managing rent

Depending on the package you choose, we will include your property in our computerised housing-management system to allow us to manage your rent account effectively and efficiently. This will include:

  • paying the rental income to you
  • managing the rent account (which includes collecting money and dealing with any missed rent payments)

 

We will provide you with invoices so that you can claim back any VAT on your expenses such as the cost of our services. The officer carrying out the sign-up will help the tenant fill in Housing and Council Tax Benefit application forms if appropriate and forward them to the Housing and Council Tax Benefit Office to process.

 

Property inspections

As part of the Silver and Gold packages, we will inspect the inside and outside of the property once a year on your behalf. Following the inspection we will provide you with a written report on its condition.

 

Recording meter readings

We will also keep a record of gas and electricity readings at the start and end of every tenancy.

 

Inspecting your property before the tenant moves out

We will arrange with the tenant to inspect the property within the last month of their tenancy. At this visit, we will point out any repairs that are the tenant’s responsibility, and make a signed agreement with your tenant naming these repairs and whether the tenant will do the work or pay for our workmen (or workmen that you arrange) to carry out the work. We will also agree how the property should be left when the tenant departs.

 

On the day the tenant moves out

On the day that your tenant leaves your property, we will collect the keys and check that they have given back the number of keys received when they took over the tenancy.

We will also inspect your property to ensure that it is left in the same condition it was in at the commencement of the tenancy. If any work is required that is the tenant’s responsibility, we will make an agreement with the tenant setting out which work they must pay for. Our operatives or cleaners will carry out any work or you can make your own arrangements.

 

When the property is empty

While your property is empty, we will regularly inspect it to make sure it is safe. If we have any concerns about security, we will inform you and we will decide how to manage the situation. We could, for example:

  • arrange contractors to screen the doors and windows
  • arrange to install an alarm system that comes with a 24-hour response service if it goes off

There is, however, a fee for the security measures and also if any call-out is needed.

 

Finding a new tenant for your property

We will identify a new tenant for your property from our housing register once any work that needs to be carried out has been completed.

 

Property inspections

We would require that any property we manage is in a reasonable condition to an agreed lettable standard. Any property that we manage must be free of hazards as prescribed in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System as well as being safe, secure and clean - with all facilities and components in good working order.

Our surveyors will inspect your property in order to ensure that it meets our standard.

 

Finding you a tenant

The housing register comprises a list of people who want us to help them to find a home. The list is made up of our current tenants and anyone else who has applied to us.

Our lettings policy is compliant with the 1996 Housing Act and the 2002 Homelessness Act.

We will find a tenant for you from our housing register. The housing register is split into five bands.

We give people in bands 1 to 3 priority in order of the date we put them into that band.

We give priority to people in bands 4 and 5 in order of the date they applied.

 

Making sure the tenant is suitable

From the information provided we will endeavour to ensure that the tenant is suitable for your property before we make a full offer of a tenancy.

 

Checking references

We will check the references of all the people who are over 18 years old and whose name will be included on the tenancy agreement. If we have any concerns, we will investigate these and we will not make an offer until we have resolved any matters of concern.

 

Making an offer

When we offer someone a tenancy for your property, we will either send it by post, tell them in person or telephone them.

 

Attending viewings

One of our officers will arrange to meet the tenant at your property to allow them to view it. This ensures that the tenant has someone there to answer any questions they may have about the property or the tenancy.

 

The tenancy agreement

We will give the new tenant a 6,12 or 24 month assured shorthold tenancy agreement (known as a fixed term). This enables us to have full control over the tenancy and to take action if the tenant breaks the conditions of their tenancy.

 

Signing the tenancy agreement

The tenant will sign the tenancy agreement at one of our Area Housing Offices. All relevant forms (including benefit application forms) will be completed at the same time. We will then leave the keys with your new tenant.

 

Council tax liability

We will tell the Council Tax department on your behalf when tenants move in and out.

 

Housing benefit

We will assist the tenant in completing and submitting Housing and Council Tax Benefit documentation if appropriate.

 

Welcome pack

We will provide a welcome pack for your tenant to introduce them to their new home. The welcome pack includes:

  • the names and numbers for the gas and electricity suppliers
  • information about the property
  • emergency contact numbers
  • instructions on how to use the heating system
  • contact details of the services we provide under the package you have chosen