Lettings
Letting, can be both complicated and time-consuming, and every landlord wants to know that their property and money are in safe hands. Jacksons Lettings and Sales with over 30 years of experience are able to manage and guide you through the process in order to achieve the best possible price, in the shortest possible time is key.

At Jacksons Lettings and Sales we recognise that each client is unique and has a different set of requirements, because of this we tailor your experience with us to ensure that not only do we provide the best turn around on your property, but also your respect, trust and peace of mind.

We believe that "communication is key" and with that in mind, we do not "aim" to keep our customers up to date, we "do", and we do it throughout the entire process, in ways that best suit you, whether its via phone, email, letters, face to face, social media or even Skype.

Landlord and Tenant Law is complex and expert help is often needed to resolve issues that may arise. We offer a comprehensive and expert Landlord and Tenant advice/assistance service including preparation and service of forms and all aspects of recovering possession of residential property through the Court system and enforcement of Court orders. All initial advice is free and all work undertaken is on pre-arranged fixed fee basis.



Letting Management

Jacksons Lettings and Sales understand that every landlord is unique, and with this in mind we aim to be as flexible as we can to work around your needs and make the letting process as smooth as possible. We provide a wide range of lettings options from a simple tenant match to a fully managed property.
Realistic Valuations

With over 30 years of experience in the local market, Jacksons Lettings and Sales are proud of their substantial knowledge of the market rental values and trends. Our free valuations not only provide you with a realistic valuation of your property, but also take into account the local amenities (Schools, Shops, etc) and what value they may add to interested tenants.
Online Marketing

Jacksons Lettings and Sales pride themselves on being technically competent, and with over 90% of potential tenants starting their searches online, we decided that we needed a large online presents to ensure your property gets noticed straight away. By submitting your property into our database not only will it appear on our website but it is also automatically persisted across a number of potential sales routes, including social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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This section should be used as a general guide to our terms and conditions and legislation that can be subject to change. It is very important to always read and understand your tenancy agreement and holding forms as these are legal documents that are relevant to you and your tenancy. If there is any part you do not understand or cannot read please let us know and we will be happy to advise you. If you cannot understand written English then please bring somebody with you who can. Finally if you are not sure about any aspect please ask the advice of a solicitor or legal professional.

Once you have found a suitable property, you will need to reserve it so its no longer being actively marketed. To reserve your property, you will need to pay a non-refundable combined processing, holding and referencing fee, therefore it is important to make sure that you are fully satisfied with your choice of property and what features it has, as you will not get this back once you have signed and read the holding terms and paid the fee. This is non-refundable and is sent to the independent referencing company.

When you pay this fee you will be required to complete and tenant registration /credit referencing form. This form will require you to provide detailed, honest information about yourself and or any Guarantor as required. Failure to answer these questions fully and honestly will result in you failing referencing and not being able to proceed with the property. We must make you aware that referencing is carried out by an independent company that is not linked or owned by Jacksons Lettings & Sales and they do not pay us fees or commission of any type. The referencing depends on many aspects including your past history and credit decisions as well as income. Jacksons Lettings & Sales get a passed or failed notification but are not party to specifics if you fail for any reason.

If you require additional guarantors all tenants need to be referenced on top of the agreed tenant’s additional referencing fee, these are outlined on our scale of fees. The property will then be held one week until the references have been taken up.

Credit Checks & Referencing

Once fees are paid we will then submit the credit reference to an external agency to conduct a detailed credit reference and check into your background. It may be necessary for you to supply a guarantor especially if the outcome is close to the minimum requirement to take up the tenancy outlined by one of our lettings team.

Subject to all references being satisfactory and you passing the credit check a date to move into the property will be set. Please note that should the tenancy not proceed due to default, change of mind, bad references or referencing failure your non-refundable fee will be forfeited.

Jacksons Lettings & Sales will provide you with a summary showing all payments that will need to be made with clear funds before you can move into the property. If you are unclear about anything, please do not hesitate to ask for clarification.

Signing the tenancy agreement

The tenancy agreement must be signed on or before the date of occupation, you will be contacted to arrange an appointment for this. Please read the agreement carefully, make sure that you fully understand the implications. In addition you must be able to read and speak English, if you cannot please bring someone who can translate for you. On the date you will usually pay a minimum of one month’s rent in advance, a dilapidations deposit as specified on your initial documentation you signed when you held the property.

What methods we accept rent and deposit payments:

The payments must be made by one of the following methods only;

Deposit

The deposit will be held against possible breakages, cleaning, breech of tenancy and unpaid bills and the rented property and will be returned, subject to everything being satisfactory with 14 days of the tenancy ending. Jacksons Lettings & Sales are members of the TDS scheme. More information can be obtained from their website.

Rent Payments

All rent payments must be paid on or before the rent due date on your agreement. If you are late paying rent then you may be subject to a late payment charge.

Standing Order Set Up

This is especially important when setting up standing orders as they take 3 days to reach our bank account. If you set up a standing order for the day the rent is due it will put yourself in arrears and incur late payment charged for us having to chase these arrears. If you are setting up a standing order then please inform us and arrange it to be processed at least 3 days before the rent due date to allow it to clear into our bank account.

Things you should check prior to moving in

Here is a quick list of things to check before moving into the property;

Please notify the appropriate organisations of the new tenancy and provide your full details

Inventory

A Detailed pictorial inspection/Inventory will be carried out prior to your moving, this will describe the condition of the property and any fixtures, fittings and contents.

Mail redirection

If you are moving from another rented property, please ensure that you contact royal mail to redirect your post to your new property.

Inspections

A Property inspection will be carried out at 3 monthly intervals on properties managed by Jacksons Lettings & Sales. You will be contacted to arrange an appointment for the inspection, if you find that this is inconvenient please let us know and we will arrange for a different date or time. During the inspection you will have the opportunity to bring to our attention any defects that need to be rectified. After the inspection you will be notified if this property is being maintained to our standards. If the property does not meet our requirements, then you will be advised of the measures that you would be required to implement.

Contractors

When maintenance work must be carried out at a property, a maintenance visit time will be arrange at a time suitable for the tenant and the contractor. You should allow up to 45 minutes for unexpected delays and traffic, if the contractor has not arrived by this time, please contact the office immediately.
We will then make inquiries as to the cause of the delay and advise when the contractor will be at your property. In the case of a maintenance visit arranged outside of office hours, you would be given a contact number for the contractor. The contractors we use are extremely busy, therefore it is extremely important for the tenant to be available to provide access, If the contractor arrives within the allocated time and is unable to enter the property, the tenant will be liable for any costs associated with the aborted visits.

Landlord manages his own property?

If your landlord is managing the property then you should contact your landlord directly. You will be required to allow access to your landlord or his/her representative(s), for the purpose of inspection and maintenance visits. We will inform you if we manage the property or not before you sign up.

At the end of the tenancy

A final inspection will be made of the property against the inventory and should the property be found in an unsatisfactory condition, or any breakages noted at this time of the final inspection, suitable deductions will be made from your deposit (excluding fair wear and tear)

Deposit refund

Prior to the refund of the deposit, you will need to provide copies of your bills to show that the following have been paid to the last day of the tenancy.
The deposit is held in the TDS scheme. More information can be obtained from their website.
On receipt of the above and subject to any deductions arising from the final inspection, your deposit will be forwarded to your nominated address, alternatively it can be put in to your bank account via a BACS payment.
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The East London lettings market is a lucrative one for landlords but is also fiercely competitive, so you certainly need to get the best advice before you put your property on the market to let. It is best to choose a letting agent who really knows their area, the tenants and the market conditions so they can help you achieve the maximum rent for your property and keep the void period’s to a minimum.

A Lettings agent who knows their area well will be able to tell you exactly what tenant’s expectations are and at Jacksons Lettings & Sales we know and understand the market better than anyone.

At Jacksons Lettings & Sales we feel that first impressions are key, so during the marketing and viewing period you need to present the property in the best way possible. It is imperative that you make sure that both the exterior and the interior of your property are in good order. It is best to choose neutral paint for the interior and ensure bathrooms and kitchens are as modern as possible.

Garden areas are important and as with selling it is best to de-clutter the garden, cut the grass and weed the flower beds. If you have a courtyard make sure it is jet washed and clean. Think of it as another room in your property that the tenants will really enjoy.

It is also important to maintain your property before and during a tenancy. Pipework, grouting, sealants and tiles should all be check regularly so that repairs can be done before the problem escalates into a major flood.

Market knowledge is key and we have gathered this over many years. We react quickly to the market as it changes and keep a list of suitable tenants to try and rent properties as soon as they are placed with us.

The best tenants may not always be the ones offering the highest rent and we know void periods are expensive but a bad tenant really can cost you much more! Choose a good tenant who can move in quickly, is keen to stay a long time and who will take care of your property. It is important to know tenants well and at Jacksons Lettings & Sales we vigilantly reference our tenants. If you don’t carefully reference you end up with a tenant in the property not paying rent, causing damage and the face of a large bill for eviction. Some agents just look at the number and don’t care who they put into the property as long as they get paid. We don’t.

We have found that there are many different approaches to marketing but at Jacksons Lettings & Sales we feel that the marketing should happen immediately and show the property in the bets light possible. EPC and photographs should be organised property particulars drawn up. At Jacksons Lettings & Sales we will email these straight away to all perspective tenants who have registered with us and telephone to let them know the good news. On our managed properties we can also work with other local agents to assist in the finding of a tenant which we then reference, sign up and manage for your peace of mind.

As well as protecting your tenant, you must protect your property, not just with buildings insurance but landlord’s contents insurance as well. Specialist landlord insurance is available and we can organise this for you through our preferred providers.

You may also need written permission from the freeholder or mortgage lender if your property is held on a lease of subject to a mortgage. You must ensure that your insurance provider knows that you are letting the property as it is important to know you have the correct policy in place.

Landlords are taxed on their rental income, but if you find a good accountant they can often help you minimise your annual tax bill. We are happy to work with your accountant so that relevant costs can be offset against your tax bill, including your mortgage, safety inspections, our fees, insurance costs and inventory fees. It is essential that you keep a note of everything you spend on your rental property.

At Jacksons Lettings & Sales we use the most up to date computer accounting system so that our records are held accurately and sent to you efficiently. These system ensure that rent monies are collected and paid to you without delay. At Jacksons Lettings & Sales we understand that your funds must be remitted to you immediately and as we have a non interest bearing client account there is no advantage for us to hold on to your rent.

Many of our landlords choose to appoint Jacksons Lettings & Sales to take over the managing of their rental property. With an on-call maintenance service chosen from a compressive list of trusted professional contractors, we resolve problems quickly and effectively so that tenants remain happy and landlords can enjoy total peace of minds.

Our aim is to foster good relationships with our tenants and landlord so that disputes are avoided and properties are looked after respectfully and properly.
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