Landlord Process

We will carry out an extensive and thorough valuation of your property in order to advise and guide you on the current market conditions and help you achieve the best possible price for your property. We will provide you with comparables of other properties in the area that are similar to your own, to show how accurate our valuations are. We want to work with you to maximise your properties potential to Let.

Finding a Letting agent close to you is by no means a difficult task, with over 40 in Bromley alone and more than double that amount in South East London. But finding the RIGHT agent is far more challenging. That is why De Scotia aim to exceed general expectations of what a Letting Agent should be by offering a unique and tailored service to our Landlords, keeping you informed and at ease every step of the way.

We at De Scotia feel that a short term let is not the best option when renting out an entire property. Whilst short term lettings may be suitable for vacation periods, festival seasons and academic terms, they are usually most beneficial when it is a Room on offer only. House shares are better suited to a short term let, although not essential and we would advise our Landlords and Tenants to sign a contract for a minimum period of 6 months.

A company Let is an excellent option for Landlords, as the company providing the tenants will need to be a registered business, subject to extensive checks by an external referencing company. This means proof of funds will be transparent and confirmed and the company will be traceable as long as it is functioning. Companies may also chose to pay a larger deposit, or pay rent in advance if they have the ability to do so.

If you would prefer to take a back seat and put the potential stress of managing a property into someone else’s hands, look no further. We have an experienced property management team, who will liaise with you and your tenants, acting as a ‘middle man’ to mediate and remedy any issues or queries that may arise. Though it is a tough and testing job at times, our management team are equipped with unwavering patience and perseverance as well as all the relevant contacts in the field to carry out any maintenance, cleaning or decorating works required. We carry out periodic Inspections and can prove a check-in and check-our service as well as a full inventory.

In order to maximise the potential of Letting your property, we use professional cameras and software to provide photos that truly capture your property in the best light, enhancing its appeal to possible tenants. We may ask you to adjust or rearrange furniture or items in the property for the photos, to emphasise the layout and size of a room / area that may otherwise be difficult to view. We will always provide you with advice on how to really sell your property and give you honest feedback following viewings that take place.

Once viewings are underway, you may receive an offer on your property. We usually keep the property on the market, but refrain from carrying out further viewings whilst an applicant goes through the referencing process. If an applicant puts in an offer below the asking price then we will discuss this with you.

Once their reference is complete, we can then discuss their suitability with you at which point you can tell us your thoughts and / or concerns you may have. The referencing carried out is extensive and thorough and is carried out by our external referencing company who also provide a Rent Guarantee service which we advise all Landlords to use.

To prepare your property to be lived in by your new tenants, there are a few things which need to be in place. By law a valid Gas Safety certificate is needed before the property becomes tenanted, and we have registered engineers on our books who are able to provide this. An EPC (energy performance certificate) is also required and we can offer this to you as we have our own certified provider. We can suggest certain things that may make the property more liveable, (for example; providing white goods, removing furniture, adding furniture, decorating in places, carrying out a professional clean) before the tenancy commences, and we have people at hand who are able to fulfil all of these jobs with a very quick turnaround.

Once confirmed with you that the tenancy can go ahead, we will draw up the Tenancy Agreement which will act as a legally binding contract between you and your tenant.

An inventory of the property's condition and its contents is produced which must be reviewed by h tenant and returned to our office to be signed and then it will be supplied to both parties i.e., Landlord and Tenant.

An advanced rental payment is required before the start of the Tenancy. A rental deposit is also required from the Tenant, which is secured against the inventory report and registered with a secure external Deposit Scheme.

All necessary letters are sent out to welcome the tenant into their new home, introduce you as the Landlord, (if it is a Let Only Service we provided) transfer the utilities into the tenants name and keys are handed over. Well done: Your property has now been Let!