Home » Letting & Management

Letting your home –
Our approach.

Service & Marketing

At Watsons Letting Agents you will find a local friends and family run business with a professional and experienced team who will always ensure clients receive the highest possible level of service.

When it comes to marketing, we use the latest equipment and services to market your home. You can expect as standard: Professional photography, 3D floor plans, extensive social media marketing and coverage on every major property website.

Our extensive knowledge of the local property market is paired with our ability to deal with our clients in what we believe is the correct and only way: complete transparency, exceptional levels of service and professionalism.

Choosing The Right Letting Agent

Choosing the right Letting Agent is crucial to a stress free and profitable investment.

Securing a Tenant for a property is just the beginning of the letting process. When you let with Watsons you may choose to opt for our management service and knowing your property is in safe hands is a valuable asset for Landlords.

Our dedicated and trained team will proactively manage your property, dealing with problems promptly and cost effectively. It is our aim to provide the best possible service at all times. We can manage your property throughout the lettings process; from finding you a Tenant, organising inventories and pre-tenancy cleans, right through to handling deposit negotiations once the Tenancy has come to an end.

Key Icon

In House Property Management

During the Tenancy period we handle day-to-day maintenance issues, arrange repairs, organise quarterly visits to check the property, as well as dealing with accounts and liaising with utility companies. When your Tenancy is coming to an end, our team will guide you through the renewal or termination process.

We are also on hand just to find you a Tenant. We can organise everything up to the point of the Tenant moving in before handing the responsibilities to you.

We are happy to advise Landlords on all aspects of letting your property, please see our Landlord Guidance Notes. Watsons is regulated by The Property Ombudsman and the Trading Standards Institute which has been set up to protect you as a consumer.

House Icon

Regulated Agent

Watsons Letting Agents is regulated by Safe Agent, Guild of Residential Lettings, The Property Ombudsman for Lettings and the Trading Standards Institute which has been set up to protect you as a consumer.

Sheild Icon

Regulations and Fees

Keeping you informed of your legal obligations as a Landlord.

Electrical Installations & Equipment

Landlords of private rental properties are required to have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) carried out and available for the start of a new Tenancy and for existing Tenancies. This is to comply with the Electricity Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) regulations 2020.

It is a legal requirement for a rental property to have a valid EICR before a new Tenancy starts and are typically valid for 5 years from the date of the test. On completion of an EICR being carried out faults that have been identified are required to be rectified within 28 days from the date of the test and need to be undertaken by a Part P registered competent person.

Electrical equipment that is provided by the Landlords that is to be used by a Tenant at the property, is legally required to be safe to use to comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994. It is always best practice to carry out a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) on any electrical equipment provided, as you may be liable if the Tenants are harmed from a faulty electrical appliance at the property.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312/made

https://www.rla.org.uk/Landlords/guides/responsibilities/electrical_inspections.shtml

EPC

Energy Performance Certificates are needed whenever a property is built, sold or rented. You must order an EPC for potential buyers and Tenants before you market your property to sell or rent. An EPC contains information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs and recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money.

An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years. To let a property your efficiency rating must be between A and E.

https://www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home/energy-performance-certificates

Fire

The furniture supplied within a rental property must comply with fire resistance requirements as defined within The Fire and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended).

The regulations apply to beds, headboards of beds and mattresses, sofa-beds, futons and other convertibles, nursery furniture, garden furniture suitable for use in the dwelling, scatter cushions and seat pads, pillows, loose and stretch covers for furniture. They do not apply to furniture made before 1950, bedclothes including duvets, loose covers for mattresses, pillow cases, curtains, carpets and sleeping bags.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1988/1324/contents/made

Gas

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require a Gas Safety Check to be carried out on every gas appliance/flue. This will ensure gas fittings and appliances are safe to use. A certificate will be supplied by a Gas Safe registered Engineer stating a pass or a fail, and the appropriate action will be required should the check fail. The certificate is valid for 12 months and must be provided to the Tenants prior to the commencement of the Tenancy. Watsons will not allow Tenants to move in without valid certificates.

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 require that a working smoke alarm be fitted on every floor and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms containing a solid fuel appliance.

If smoke alarms are present, it is imperative that they are maintained. A clause within the Tenancy Agreement will typically inform the Tenants of their responsibility to keep it well maintained and the battery to be replaced when necessary.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms-explanatory-booklet-for-Landlords

Tax and the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme

You may be subject to income tax during the rental period and capital gains when you sell. If you are in any doubt, or you would prefer not to complete your own self-assessment tax return, then we advise that you consult a qualified Accountant.

https://www.gov.uk/renting-out-a-property/paying-tax

If you reside overseas, we are required by HMRC to comply with the Non-Resident Landlords Scheme. Unless the Landlords provides a NRL form to HMRC, we will be required to deduct the basic rate of income tax from the rent. Watsons can provide and assist you with the required information. Once HMRC approval is given we will be able to transfer net rental income without deductions.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/international/nr-Landlords.htm

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nrl1.pdf

Tenancy Deposit Protection

Legislation requires security deposits for Assured Shorthold Tenancies to be registered with a government approved scheme. Watsons can register the deposit on behalf of the Landlords. We are members of the Deposit Protection Service.

https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection

https://www.depositprotection.com

Permission for Letting

If you are thinking about becoming a Landlords you will need to obtain permission from your Mortgage Lender (if you have a mortgage) and the Freeholder (if you own a leasehold property) when considering property letting.

A Mortgage Lender or Freeholder might impose conditions before giving you their permission to rent out your property. You should always comply with the conditions of your mortgage or leasehold for property letting because in the worst case you could face repossession.

Request type(Required)

One of our expert valuers will provide you with an estimated guide price via email, within 24 hours

Name(Required)
Name(Required)
Address

Want to know how much your property will rent for?