Property for Sale UK and Property to Let UK

Intercounty 7 Keys to Results

1. Local know-how is key

   Schools, Amenities, Transport, Clubs, Societies and more, we make sure all our people know all about your local area.

2. Accessibility is key

   We make sure that we are available for you when you want us to be till 9pm weekdays and at weekends.

3. Trust is Key

   To make sure you get the best possible service and professionalism we ensure all our people have passed appropriate professional agency exams.

4. Results are key

   We will ensure that your property is fully available within 24 hours of instructing us and our people are focussed on delivering the results you require in the timescale you require.

5. Communication is key

   We will ensure that our people stay in contact with you, update you and deliver your results, and use your feedback to improve the service we offer.

6. Commitment is key

   We will focus on solely your needs challenging ourselves and industry norms to do so. We help to deliver this by responding to all enquiries within 1 working day.

7. Complete service is key

   We will ensure that we can offer you the complete property service from renting, sales, mortgage services via Lsli Ltd, surveying and conveyancing to make your move as easy and as stress free as possible.

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Landlords – What happens when?

• Consider your needs

  Is the property you want to let an investment or your home? You will have different priorities and needs and the help and advice of a property professional can be essential at an early stage.

  Talk to your mortgage lender as early as possible to make sure you can get consent to let your property.

• Consider your timescales

  Intercounty recommend that you market your property no more than 6 to 8 weeks before you want it Let. The standard length of a tenancy is 6 or 12 months. Talk to friends, colleagues and other landlords too for recommendations.

• Talk to a Letting agent

  At Intercounty we can help guide you through the process and assist and advise you if you are considering letting your property. At Intercounty we always welcome the opportunity to talk to all our customers so drop in for a chat about the market and a coffee anytime. Meet our people, talk through your needs and register with us.

• Valuation

  Get your property valued – all agents should offer comparable evidence of other properties recently let, discuss property management, associated costs, compliance issues, local and national market information, rent guarantees and insurance policies. At Intercounty we pride ourselves on our ability to help you with every aspect of your tenancy and can offer an outstanding Property Management service.

  You will receive a Valuation Letter which outlines what we believe you can achieve in monthly income for your property.

  Intercounty will call to discuss the next step you want to take.

• Instruction

  When you instruct your agent they should book an appointment to come and take photographs and arrange for an Energy Performance assessment in order to start marketing the property.

• Agency Agreement

  You should receive and sign the Agency Agreement and complete the landlord information forms and return them.

• Marketing

  At Intercounty we will place your property on the market within 1 working day of receipt of the Energy Performance certificate. We will upload your property immediately to Intercounty.co.uk, match with our database, contact prospective tenants, place your property on Rightmove and various other websites and advertise in the local press.

• Viewing

  At the viewing stage Intercounty prequalify all potential tenants and accompany all viewings. We have found that the majority of activity will take place approximately 1 month before the property's availability date.

• Feedback

  We will ring your prospective tenants 24 hours after the viewing and feedback their comments, the outcome and any necessary actions to you as soon as contact has been made.

• Offer

  When an offer is made we will contact you immediately by your preferred communication method. Confirm instruction of any works required as agreed.

• Referencing Process

  If an agreement is reached we will start the referencing process immediately (it usually takes about 7 working days) and it covers credit history, employment history, previous landlords and any reference guarantors if required. It is worth understanding the criteria set by your agent for referencing as these may differ. Intercounty are happy for you to drop in at any time and talk through any concerns you may have and what our Property Management and Rent Guarantee schemes can offer.

  We will write to you to confirm in writing all the details at the start of the referencing process.

• Tenancy Agreement

  Once the references have passed the Tenancy Agreement will be drawn up and sent to you. Sign the agreement and return to Intercounty or give written permission for Intercounty to do so on your behalf.

• Deposits

  Tenants are required to pay a deposit prior to the start of the agreement. As from 2007 all deposits under an Assured Shorthold Agreement, which is the majority of agreements signed, must be registered and proof of registration will be provided. The deposit required is 1.5 times the monthly rent.

• Inventory

  We will arrange for an inventory of your property and deal with any compliance issues e.g. Landlords Gas safety certificate.

• Check-in Service

  Intercounty can offer a check in service to ensure a clean and efficient handover.

• Standing orders

  Intercounty insists that tenants set up standing orders.

• Property Management

  At Intercounty we pride ourselves on our Property Management service with our dedicated specialist Property Investment Management Team who will ensure that your home/investment is very well looked after.

  The Intercounty Property Investment Management Team will contact you to introduce themselves. They will ensure that your rent is paid on time, that your home/investment is looked after, that any necessary maintenance is dealt with.

  For more information of this service see the Property Management Section.

• Renewals

  2 months prior to the end of your fixed term Intercounty will contact you to discuss your future plans. We will assess the current market position and advise accordingly and then contact your tenant to discuss their plans.

• Tenancy renewal

  This allows further commitment, planning and budgeting for another fixed term. The process replicates the start of the original tenancy.

• Serving notice

  If you wish to serve notice Intercounty will advise on the necessary steps given the circumstances – e.g. whether fixed term (as above) or periodic and serve the necessary notices.

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Property Management

At Intercounty we have focussed our experience and invested specifically into the Property Management area of the Property business. Our research has shown that the best way for us to look after your property, as if it were our own, is to centralise our dedicated specialist Property and Investment Managers. Intercountys' centralised service ensures that:

• We can handle everything from the time your tenant is found through to when the property is handed back to you.
• We can maximise our accessibility, we will be available to you from 9 till 6 Monday to Friday and 9 till 5 Saturdays.
• We can ensure that we give you a consistent service by employing a very experienced team with many years in property management and Lettings.
• We can sustain clear communication channels with all our Landlords and Tenants by utilising a specially designed support centre with regular training and technology updates.
• We will look after your home or investment as if it were our own.

Call your local Intercounty Branch to talk more.

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Definition of an HMO (House in Multiple Occupation)

The Housing Act 2004 introduces a new definition of an HMO. A HMO can be a building or part of a building if it is:

• Occupied by persons who form more than one household, and where those persons share (or lack) one of more basic amenities, such as a WC, personal washing and cooking facilities; or
• A converted building containing one or more units of accommodation that do not consist entirely of self-contained flats. (There is no requirement that the occupiers share facilities); or
• A converted building consisting entirely of self-contained flats, where the building work undertaken in connection with the conversion did not comply with the 1991 Building Regulations and more than one third of the flats are occupied under short tenancies.

The HMO must be occupied by more than one household:

• As their only or main residence; or
• As a refuge by persons escaping domestic refuge; or
• During term time students; or
• For some other purpose that is described in regulations.

In all cases:

• Occupation of the living accommodation must be the only use of that accommodation; and
• Rents are payable or other considerations are provided.

Under the Act, a household comprises:

• A single person; or
• Co-habiting couples (whether or not of the opposite sex); or
• A family (including foster children and children being cared for) and current domestic employees.

Certain types of buildings will not be HMO’s for the purpose of the Act. They include:

• Buildings, or parts of buildings, occupied by no more than two households, each of which comprise a single person only (for example, two person house or flat shares); or
• Buildings occupied by a resident landlord with up to two tenants; or
• Buildings managed or owned by a public sector body, such as the police, local authority, registered social landlords, fire and rescue authority and the NHS; or
• Buildings occupied by religious communities; or
• Student halls of residence where the education establishment has signed up to an Approved Code of Practice; or
• Buildings occupied entirely by freeholders or long leaseholders;

Buildings regulated otherwise than under the Act, such as care homes, bail hostels, etc, and the description of which are specified in regulations.

Definition of an HMO requiring a Licence

The act requires landlords of many Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to apply for licences. The HMOs that need to be licensed are those with:

• Three or more storeys, which are:
• Occupied by five or more people forming two or more households (ie people not related, living together as a couple, etc), and
• Which have an element of shared facilities (eg kitchen, bathroom, etc)

Go to the Residential Landlords Association Website for more details:

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Customer Feedback

A small selection of the most recent feedback

• Bishops Stortford office - 23/06/12

  "Purchased the property through Intercounty and you agents were the only ones that made me feel really comfortable and confident. There was no hard sale, just friendly banter – perfect. Everyone in the office knows who I am, my emails are answered straight away (am living in Saudi), any problems are dealt with calmly and professionally... really have made this whole experience quite pleasant!"

  C M

• Bishops Stortford office - 09/06/12

  "Reliable service, staff do what they tell you they are going to do, return calls/Emails. Deal with difficult issues without fuss. Happy and confident to leave management of properties with Inter, confident that things are not overlooked or neglected."

  Mr R

• Bishops Stortford office - 09/06/12

  "Have been using Intercounty for about 5 years now for this property. This was a new lease, handled with ease and very efficiently."

  Mr F

• Great Dunmow office - 08/06/12

  Helen White - She is an absolute superstar, she is a pleasure to deal with and having dealt with a number of agents in the past she is the best by miles. It was Helens professional approach that prompted me to go managed although in the past I have managed myself. Whatever you do, don’t lose her!"

  Mr W

• Nottingham office - 08/06/12

  "Chris was likeable, responsible and keen to let my property. He was particularly helpful in arranging installation of a new kitchen and other works on my property, at trade prices. The work was carried out to a high standard. Throughout a period of 6 months during which he was involved with me in this process and in ultimately letting the property to some super tenants, Chris' enthusiasm and intention to look after my letting requirements was reassuring and very helpful as I found my way with this project. When communications broke down with the contractor Chris sought to smooth things over."

  Mr J

• Braintree office - 24/05/12

  "Alan was exceptional, delivered everything he promised and more, I have already referred him to friends and family."

  Mr S

• Chelmsford office - 19/05/12

  "We have been using Intercounty (Your Move) since 2004 and the service has been good, so despite some offers of 50% reduction for finder’s fee we decided to stay with Intercounty."

  AS

• "Good morning

  On behalf of my wife and I we would like to express our sincere thanks to Intercounty Nottingham branch, in the professional and courteous way they have handled the recent letting of our property. The bungalow was on the market for almost nine months with two other estate agents in Nottingham with very little pro-active action from either, which we found very frustrating. Finally we were passing your branch and decided to try our luck with your company.

  In turn this led to some very prompt and decisive action by Chris Swingler and all the branch staff to rent or sell our property.

  We were informed at every stage of negotiations and have now finally completed with Chris managing the property for us.

  We would certainly recommend the Nottm branch and all its staff.

  Yours Faithfully"

  Mr and Mrs S

• "We just wanted to write to express our gratitude for the work you did to make the transition between tenants at our house so smooth. We also wanted to thank you for always replying so promptly to our emails. Simon's Mum let us know of the work you did to help organise things during the transition week and we really appreciate your time and efforts.

  We hope the new tenants are settling well and enjoying living at the house.

  With our very grateful thanks."

  Mr and Mrs B

• "Thank you to everyone re: my little house - I knew it was in brilliant hands!!!"

• "I would just like to say thank you again Zena to you and everyone at Intercounty, you have been very helpful throughout our tenancy and I would have no hesitation in recommending you in the future."

• "I leave with the comfort and confidence that my investments are in extremely safe hands. What better compliment than a previous tenant then uses your team for their investment properties."

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