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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Agency Agreement
You should receive and sign the Agency Agreement and complete the landlord information forms and return them.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Offer
When an offer is made we will contact you immediately by your preferred communication method. Confirm instruction of any works required as agreed.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Inventory
We will arrange for an inventory of your property and deal with any compliance issues e.g. Landlords Gas safety certificate.
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Check-in Service
Intercounty can offer a check in service to ensure a clean and efficient handover.
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Standing orders
Intercounty insists that tenants set up standing orders.
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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.
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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.
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Tenancy renewal
This allows further commitment, planning and budgeting for another fixed term. The process replicates the start of the original tenancy.
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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.