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Our letting services

Our letting services

We offer a flexible package based around 3 levels of letting service: full management, tenant find and rent collection and tenant finding only

1. Full management

This is our standard comprehensive service which includes marketing the property, finding a suitable tenant, conducting comprehensive tenant referencing, setting up the tenancy, collecting the rent, chasing any arrears and managing the tenancy and the property.

Once suitable tenants have been identified, we make recommendations to the landlord. The tenant can reserve the property (subject to contract and satisfactory references) by paying a holding deposit (normally the equivalent of one month's rent). Marketing of the property will then cease. If the tenancy proceeds the holding deposit will be taken as the first month's rent prior to the start of the tenancy. (N.B. The holding deposit does not fall under the jurisdiction of tenancy deposit legislation).

Once a tenant has been accepted by the landlord, we carry out comprehensive referencing. Assuming satisfactory replies have been received, we prepare a tenancy agreement for signature by both parties.

Prior to the start of the tenancy we also collect a deposit (normally equal to one and a half month's rent), which is held as security against repairs or cleaning required at the end of the tenancy or any monies outstanding. Dorset Property hold the deposit in a separate client account and the deposit is registered with The Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

After the initial month's payment, the tenant is normally expected to pay rent monthly in advance on the 1st day of the month (an adjusted payment is made for the balance of month two if the tenancy does not start on the 1st day of the month). Once funds clear, we deduct any maintenance costs and our monthly commission plus VAT and pay the balance to the landlord by the 14th working day of the month. A statement of account is sent to the Landlord at the same time.

Where more than one month's rent in advance is taken at the start of the tenancy, we hold a float (normally one month's rent) to cover any day-to-day repairs and maintenance. We account for the balance and pay to the landlord shortly after the start of the tenancy.

2. Tenant find and rent collection

For Landlords who prefer to be in direct contact with their tenants and manage the tenancy and property maintenance themselves but do not want to get involved in the collection of rent or any financial matters arising, including chasing any late payments or arrears.

Financial procedures are similar to those Listed for the Full Management service.

3. Tenant finding only

For landlords who prefer to be in direct contact with their tenants and manage all aspects of the tenancy themselves (including all financial aspects, property maintenance and all dealings with the tenants).

As with the above levels of service, we collect one month's rent in advance and a deposit.

Once funds clear, the balance of the rent, after our fees plus VAT have been deducted, is paid to the Landlord. We also make arrangements for subsequent rent payments to be made direct to the landlord.

If the Landlord is holding the deposit and registering it with a government approved deposit protection scheme (a legal requirement), Dorset Property will pay the deposit over to the landlord once the landlord has provided proof of the deposit registration with the scheme. If the landlord is sending the deposit to and registering it with a government approved scheme, Dorset Property will pay the deposit over to the scheme. If Dorset Property hold the deposit it is held in a separate client account and registered with The Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

With the Tenant find only service, it is the landlord's responsibility to arrange the check-in. We recommend that a professionally prepared inventory and/or schedule of condition is used. This can be arranged by Dorset Property. The landlord is also responsible for the management of the tenancy and all liaison with the tenant during the course of the tenancy.

N.B. It is a legal requirement for the landlord to provide an Energy Performance Certificate. This must be available before the property is marketed. Again this can be arranged by Dorset Property.

Winter lets

Although the majority of our lets are for a minimum of 6 months, whatever the level of service, we also handle short-term winter lets (for up to 8 months) for owners who offer holiday lets during the summer.

Landlords, find out more ...

Sherborne AbbeyWimborneGold Hill, Shaftesbury