This will be required on each gas appliance and flue to comply with current legislation and must be carried out annually by a qualified and registered engineer so that all safety regulations are followed. A copy of a valid safety record must be given at the commencement of any new tenancy and within 28 days of the annual test during the term of the tenancy.

These will be required on every floor of the property and also in any rooms that contain a solid fuel appliance such as an open fire or wood-burning stove. A check must be carried out at the commencement of the tenancy to ensure that the alarms are in working order. You can be fined for non-compliance.

This is a mandatory requirement and has to be conducted by a registered engineer. Standard EICRs are valid for 5 years. If you do not have a valid EICR we can arrange this for you. A copy of a valid EICR must be given at the commencement of any new tenancy and within 28 days of the 5 yearly test during the term of the tenancy.

This is a mandatory requirement and has to be in place before a property can be marketed. The EPC is valid for 10 years and the energy rating must currently be between A-E unless exempt. If you do not have a valid EPC we can arrange this with an accredited assessor. A copy of a valid EPC must be given at the commencement of any new tenancy and within 28 days of the 10 yearly test during the term of the tenancy.

In certain areas, selective licenses or HMO licenses may be required, if this is the case these will be required prior to the commencement of the tenancy and are normally valid for 5 years from date of issue.

We always advise that you inform your broker that your property is rented and that you have adequate landlord’s insurance in place.

Any furniture included within the tenancy agreement must comply with current fire safety regulations and must be fire resistant and accordingly have the required safety labels.

The water supply should be checked for the risk of Legionella. This can be checked upon inspection of the property for the purposes of the inventory, please discuss this with us for the best arrangement.

Do ensure that the property is in good decorative order, presentable and clean, this makes it easier to market it to its full potential. We would advise that if a property is unfurnished it is standard practice to provide white goods appliances, this including fridge/freezer, washing machine and cooker/hob. Your agent will guide you regarding putting a white goods clause into the tenancy agreement, rendering the tenant responsible for these during the period of the tenancy.

We will conduct all viewings and if the property is currently occupied, we liaise with the tenants for access.

Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) is for a fixed term of 6-12 months initially, automatically falling into a rolling periodic tenancy thereafter. We recommend an initial tenancy duration of 6 months; this allows for maximum flexibility on both the tenant and landlords part if things don’t go to plan. This can be extended after the end of the tenancy, for a further term to be determined.

We have a dedicated team of regulated contractors at our disposal, including cleaners, roofers, general handymen, plumbers, electricians, gas engineers, gardeners, and bricklayers, to name but a few. All contractors are fully vetted with public liability insurance in place. We work on a 3 x quote basis for major repairs and for minor repairs these start from as little as £45 for an annual gas safety certificate. We are happy to use your own approved contractors or utilise our existing portfolio, do speak to us upon instruction to discuss the best approach for your needs.

Deposits are registered with the Deposit Protection Service (DPS) within 48 hours of the tenant making payment to us. In the event of a dispute at the end of tenancy, we use their Dispute Resolution Service to resolve these.

We have a dedicated out of hours number for tenants use during emergencies and are contactable 24 hours a day for this reason. In the event of an emergency, tenants can contact us on 07904 701295. We also regularly monitor the Inbox  info@shonkibrothers.com which tenants can readily contact us on in the event of an emergency, and this will be picked up by a dedicated member of the team.

All utility companies are notified of occupancy via Tenant Shop, who will call the tenant to see if they require any assistance with this part of the process. They are informed of the meter readings, both at the beginning and end of every tenancy.

We produce a monthly statement of account, remitting all payments swiftly via BACs into your bank account, the statement of account is emailed direct to your inbox.

Tenants will arrange to collect keys from our office, and these are always signed out upon sharing proof of ID. We will guide them through the check-in process to ensure this is as smooth as possible.

We serve all safety documentation via Registered RMAIL prior to the commencement of the tenancy. This ensures landlord compliance with Section 21 legislation.

An inventory and schedule of conditions is prepared and e-signed, this includes full photographic schedule, together with inventory video and associated media.

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