From a single studio to multi property estates, we can help landlords to let and manage their properties and portfolios and we can assist in finding the right tenants for your homes.

Our branches are ideally situated in Bishop’s Stortford and Great Dunmow to meet potential tenants.

Our Pestell & Co property lettings agents will                                      

• Advise you on buy to let opportunities, the type of tenant you can expect to find and the return you can hope to get from your property investment.                                                                                                                                               
• Keep you up to date with your legal obligations as a buy to let landlord and the latest safety regulations.
• Manage the property on your behalf. If you’re happy to deal directly with your tenants when something needs fixing or there’s a problem, that’s fine. For those of you who are unable to become a full time landlord, we can manage the property for you and deal with the day to day running of the property, allowing you to concentrate on other things.  Our letting commission is payable for the duration of the initial term of the tenancy and any extension or renewal.

If you have a property to let, talk to one of our letting agents. We can be contacted online, by phone or by dropping into one of our branches.

Letting Property – the process

Letting out a house or flat can be a great investment, but there are a few things to look out for. We can help you find tenants, get the right price and manage the paperwork.

Let us take you through the process

Step 1: Make your property look its best

Step 2: Get a valuation from a letting agent

Step 3: Find your tenant

Step 4: Get the paperwork done

Step 5: Taking a deposit and moving in

Step 1: Make your property look its best

We’ve found that when a place feels right, the first few minutes are often all prospective tenants need to decide.

This means making your property look its best could often be the difference between a quick rental and a long slog with an empty house or flat on the market. Letting property doesn’t have to be hard work.

Presenting to rent

• Be objective – don’t overlook flaws just because you don’t mind them
• Reduce clutter – get rid of everything but the bare essentials
• Decorate neutrally – tenants should be able to see it as their home, not yours
• Keep it light – clean the windows and use light colours to decorate
• Outside and in – fresh paintwork and well cared for outside spaces make a great first impression

Step 2: Get a valuation from a letting agent

A little research can give you an idea of what the right rent is for your house or flat. Ask yourself:

• What’s the going rate in the area? Check with a Pestell & Co. agent or check the website for similar properties.
• How much do you need to cover your mortgage and other expenses?

If you want a professional opinion on where to set your rent, get in touch with us and we’ll value your property for free and without any obligation to use us for letting or management.

To arrange a free valuation by one of our letting agents use the request a valuation(hyper link) link in the left hand column. We can usually make an appointment for the next day.

Step 3: Find your tenants

If you decide you’d like us to let your property, just give the office a call and we can keep you up to date with who’s interested in renting, to when tenants are looking round and what they think of the property.

We’ll advertise your property on the web, in our office, in print and on the Rightmove website, making sure it gets seen by as many potential tenants as possible.

We’ll show prospective tenants around on your behalf and we’ll make sure it’s convenient for you and for any current tenants.

Step 4: Get the paperwork done

When you’ve found the right tenants and they’ve agreed to move in, there’s some paperwork to be done before the tenancy can start. We’ll take care of this and send all the documents to you and your tenants.

Referring is extremely important before taking on a suitable tenant and we prefer to review these references with you.

We’ll request credit checks on your tenants, follow up references and talk you .

Next we draw up a tenancy agreement that sets out exactly the terms of your contract with your tenant, including any special requirements you have. We’ll send you and your tenant copies to sign, all you have to do is check it, sign it and send it back to us before the tenancy starts.  We will forward a copy of their signed agreement to you and your signed agreement to the tenant.

Finally, the inventory records the contents and condition of your flat or house at the point when your tenants move in.  Because it’s so important that this is impartial, we recommend a specialist Inventory Company. They will give you and your tenant a copy of the inventory, and will do another inspection the end of the tenancy to check that nothings missing or damaged.

Step 5: Taking a deposit and moving in

Before the tenancy starts, we’ll collect the deposit and the first rent payment on your behalf. As soon as this money clears, your tenants can move in.  The independent inventory clerk will be there to check your tenants in, and we’ll make sure they get the keys.

Letting your property is now complete and you are now a landlord.

Buy to Let Property

Buy to let has always been popular in this area and it can be a great investment. From our knowledge of this market we’ll be able to give you all the advice you need, plus access to prospective tenants.

Here are a few things to consider if you’re thinking about buy to let:

What’s your target market?

For example, are you aiming at renting to airport workers or young families? They might have very different priorities.  Bear in mind it’s not you that will be living there.

How much time do you want to spend on management?

If you’re happy to deal direct with your tenants when something needs fixing or there’s a problem, that’s fine, but remember that, as far as they’re concerned, you are a full time landlord.  We can manage your property for you, dealing with the day to day running and allowing you to concentrate on other things.

What are my legal obligations as a landlord?

Every year you must have gas equipment like boilers and ovens inspected by a registered engineer, and then give the safety record to the tenant.

Any electrical equipment you supply has to be safe too, and furniture must be fire resistant

Pestell & Co. is obliged to refuse to take on a property where the furniture, furnishings, gas installation or electrical equipment do not comply.

As of the 1 October 2008 all landlords letting properties to new tenants will need an EPC.

An EPC or Energy Performance Certificate demonstrates the energy rating of a property. An EPC gives owners and tenants information on how efficient their property is and gives a standard energy and carbon emissions rating from A to G, A being the most efficient.

EPC’s for lettings properties are valid for 10 years.  However if improvements are made to the property which might effect the energy rating then the report can be carried out more often.

Property Management

As a landlord your income depends on finding the right tenant and keeping your property well maintained to protect its long term value.

As part of our property management service we will:

• We will periodically visit your property to ensure its cared for to the standards we expect.
• Arrange day to day maintenance and organise repairs on your behalf.
• Give you advice on how to make the best of your property and enhance its value
• Handle the accounts and keep you up to date on rent payments and any maintenance spending

Our service is charged and calculated as a percentage of the rent.