Boulton & Griffiths - Professionals Relocating Ltd

Enquiries & Viewings

On enquiry of your property, our team are specialised in the process and respond promptly to answer queries & arrange property viewings.

Viewings will be conducted with clients at the property and will be accompanied by a member of our team.

On occasion, clients are relocated to Cardiff through employment and are unable to visit prior to their move. We are also experienced in handling such situations and we are able to relocate clients with ease. This maximises the potential of the letting market. We take every opportunity to let your property successfully.

Handling of offers

After a successful viewing, an offer will be made by the client, who then becomes a potential tenant. The offer will be presented to you by our agency for you to consider.

We liaise on behalf of both parties and will negotiate & manage the transaction. Once an offer has been accepted, the property will be taken off the market and referencing begins.

Qualifying a potential tenant

Once an offer has been accepted, full referencing is undertaken of each potential tenant that wishes to occupy your property.

This includes:

• Credit checks
  
• Landlord references
  
• Employer references
  
• Affordability checks
  
• Photographic ID
  

Where potential tenant's circumstances may vary, such as being self-employed, alternative referencing is undertaken where required.

Once a potential tenant has passed the referencing process, we are able to arrange the final steps of the letting process.

The Final Steps

We will arrange an appointment for the tenants to sign the legal documents, make a payment for the first month's rent & security bond and complete the transaction by supplying the keys to the property.

Depending on the service you have selected we will provide:

• An 'Assured Shorhold Tenancy Agreement'
  
• A comprehensive Inventory
  
• Precribed Information in relation to the bond submission
  
• Payment details for tenants to make monthly rental payments
  
• An electronic payment directly into your bank
  
• An electronic statement
  

Insurance

It is essential that you insure your Premises and the Fixtures and Fittings to their full value. You might not think you've got much to lose, but you'd be surprised how fast it adds up. Without insuring your property, in an unfortunate event, the property could become inhabitable, which can lead to the property being left unoccupied resulting in a loss of rent/income, whilst bills for repairs start to stack up.

Click below for a 'No Obligation' quote for 'Landlord Insurance' cover



Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
By law, you will be required to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the rental property to begin the marketing of the property.

An EPC is a report that rates a building's performance in terms of:

• Energy use per square metre of floor area,
  
• Energy efficiency based on fuel costs
  
• Environmental impact based on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
  

This provides an energy efficiency rating and an environmental impact (CO2) rating. There are seven bands for both of these ratings, from A to G.

The EPC must be completed by a domestic energy assessor that belongs to an accreditation scheme. The certificate is valid for a period of 10 years.

If you do not have an EPC, we are happy to arrange for an EPC to be completed on your behalf. For more information please Contact Us

If you are unsure if you have an EPC for the property, you are able to check the online register. EPC Register

Click here for more information regarding EPC's.

Gas Safety Certificates

You will also be required, by law, to provide a Gas Safety Certificate.

A gas safety check involves a Gas Safe registered engineer inspecting your gas appliances.

They will check the appliance is working correctly and will check the following four areas:

• Gas appliances are on the right setting and burning correctly with the correct operating pressure
  
• Harmful gases are being removed from the appliance safely to the air outside
  
• That any ventilation routes are clear and working properly
  
• All the safety devices are working
  

Published on the official site of Gas Safe Register

A gas safety check certificate is valid for 12 months. Gas safety checks must be carried out annually whilst the property is being rented.

Click here for further information

Periodic Inspections

Although periodic inspections are not mandatory at present on non HMO properties, it is best practice to arrange for an inspection to be completed. The industry is calling for mandatory inspections for electrical safety in rental properties due to the high percentage of fires caused by electrical appliances & electrics within the household.

As a landlord you are obligated to ensure the safety of your tenants that occupy your rental property. Without having a valid periodic inspection, you are exposing yourself to significant financial risks, from fines and invalidated insurance, through not acting on your electrical safety obligations.

The inspection takes into account all the relevant circumstances and checks on:

• The adequacy of earthing and bonding.
  
• The suitability of the switchgear and controlgear. For example, an old fusebox with a wooden back, cast-iron switches, or a mixture of both will need replacing.
  
• The serviceability of switches, sockets and lighting fittings. Items that may need replacing include: older round-pin sockets, round light switches, cables with fabric coating hanging from ceiling roses to light fittings, black switches and sockets mounted in skirting boards.
  
• The type of wiring system and its condition. For example, cables coated in black rubber were phased out in the 1960s. Likewise cables coated in lead or fabric are even older and may well need replacing (modern cables use longer-lasting pvc insulation).
  
• Sockets that may be used to supply portable electrical equipment for use outdoors, making sure they are protected by a suitable residual current device (RCD).
  
• The presence of adequate identification and notices.
  
• The extent of any wear and tear, damage or other deterioration.
  
• Any changes in the use of the premises that have led to, or may lead to, unsafe conditions.
  

Published on the official site of Electrical Safety First.org.uk

A periodic inspection must be carried out by competent person & is valid for 5 years on a rented property.

The Association Of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) released an article in May 2014 regarding the call for mandatory periodic inpections, the dangers that can occur from an electrical fire & the fines that can be implemented as a result. Read more

For more information supplied by Electrical Safety First regarding your obligations as a landlord Click here

Accreditation's

The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)

ARLA is the UK's foremost professional body for letting agents. We believe letting agents should be regulated, both to protect you the consumer and to encourage and maintain high standards of customer service and knowledge within the property sector. ARLA keeps its members up-to-date with changes in legislation and provides training and guidance to aid members in all aspects of letting and managing a property.

By using a Licensed ARLA agent you are guaranteed:

• That the agency is covered by our Client Money Protection (CMP) Scheme
  

• To be consulting with a qualified and trained agent who can give you professional up-to-date advice and guidance.
  

• That you have a route to redress should something go wrong.
  

Association Of Letting Agents & Management Agents (ALMA)

'You may be an investor landlord or you may simply want to rent out your home while you're living away. You want the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your appointed Agent will take care in selecting tenants and that your property will be responsibly managed. You can trust an ALMA Agent to carry out these obligations in an effective manner and to protect your interests at all times. All ALMA Agents have been thoroughly screened for professional competence. They must maintain professional indemnity insurance and a properly managed bank account for clients' funds'

Published on the official website of ALMA

Click here for more information

The Property Ombudsman (TPO)

'A free, fair independent service for buyers, sellers, tenants & landlords of property in the UK'

Published on the official website of TPO

Click here for more information

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS)
'As part of the Housing Act 2004 the Government introduced tenancy deposit protection for all assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales where a deposit is taken. From April 6th 2007, all deposits paid under an AST should have been protected within 14 calendar days of receipt by the landlord. From 6th April 2012, deposits for all assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales must now be protected within 30 calendar days of receipt by the landlord, this change is as a result of the Localism Bill 2011'

'You'll have peace of mind that your tenant's deposit will be protected by one of the largest suppliers of deposit protection in the UK'

Published on the official website of the DPS

Click here for more information