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Michael Hardy's History
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    Michael Hardy was founded in 1985 as an estate agency specialising in the sale of residential property of all types and in all price categories from its offices in Wokingham and Crowthorne. The Lettings Division was established in 1998, initially located in Lower Earley later moving to Wokingham in 2005 continuing to managing properties throughout the Crowthorne, Reading, Finchampstead and Wokingham areas.

    Over the years the company has built a strong reputation for honesty, professionalism and innovative marketing. One of the fundamental differences between Michael Hardy and its competitors is the maturity, professionalism and experience of the sales and lettings team, coupled with the company's attitude towards providing excellent service and ensuring all of their clients are updated after every viewing and kept fully in the picture with regard to progress of the subsequent sale or rental of their property.

    With over 100 years of combined local knowledge in Wokingham and Crowthorne, vendors and landlords alike can have faith in the advice and guidance they receive from the Michael Hardy team. We pride ourselves on combining a professional, mature and proactive approach with innovative and flexible marketing techniques for both selling and renting your property.
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    How do I go about letting my property?

    There are many pitfalls, so seek professional help.

    Arrange an appointment with Michael Hardy Lettings Limited.

    We will visit your property to give advice on the current rent achievable based on our experience and knowledge of the property letting market.

    We will require you to provide us with documentary evidence that you are the legal owner of the property or have the authority to enter into a tenancy for the property on the owner's behalf.

    We will give you advice regarding the presentation of the property including items that should or should not remain. We will also answer any questions you may have about becoming a Landlord.

    You will need to decide which of our services you require. This will depend upon your own circumstances and whether you will be living near the property, or can spare the time to take care of any matters that might arise.

    We are the only transparent agent in Wokingham advertising on the Estate Agents and Residential Letting's review web site called

    www. feefo.com - Why not check this out for yourself.

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    Finding the right Tenant

    Acting on your instructions we will prepare details of the property and may place advertisements, including photographs in the press.

    We will also circulate your property details to relocation agencies and will place details of your property on our website (www.michael-hardy. co.uk).

    People from all over the world can access our website.

    It is our experience that people re-locating from abroad or from elsewhere in the United Kingdom, and who require rented property are increasingly making use of the internet.

    We also maintain our own list of prospective Tenants. Having received instructions from a Landlord, we may, with your consent place a "To Let" board outside the property.

    This identifies that the property is on the market to both passers by and friends or neighbours.

    It is also helpful to an applicant, who has come from outside the area, to identify the property.

    Selecting the right Tenant The introduction of a qualified and responsible Tenant is the first step to ensuring a successful tenancy.

    Michael Hardy representatives meet all applicants personally and will introduce them to properties which are specially selected to meet their requirements.

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    Viewings
    All viewings are by appointment which may be arranged at short notice.

    Once the letting of the property has been entrusted to Michael Hardy Lettings Limited we will ask you to provide a key to the property which will be kept at our office to enable us to show over prospective Tenants to the property as quickly as possible, thus ensuring maximum efficiency in obtaining a Tenant.

    If you have a burglar alarm installed we will require the code.

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    Vetting Tenants

    Upon finding a suitable property to rent, all of our prospective Tenants are required to complete an application form for Michael Hardy Lettings Limited to process their references via an Independent Specialist Referencing Agency.

    Michael Hardy Lettings Limited will engage the services of an Independent Referencing Agency who are regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

    The Referencing Agency specialises in providing credit and suitability references to Letting Agents, the cost of the investigations are borne by the applicants.

    Although Michael Hardy Lettings Limited will endeavour to ascertain the suitability of the applicant, we rely upon information provided by a third party and we do not warrant in any way the accuracy or completeness of the information provided.

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    Tenants Deposit Scheme

    TDS DEPOSIT SCHEME

    Michael Hardy Lettings are members of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS).

    Your deposit is held by Michael Hardy Lettings as "Stakeholder" to the deposit in a separate client  account. Any interest accrued to be payable to Michael Hardy Lettings.

    Tenants Information May 2019

    Michael Hardy Lettings will notify you in writing that your deposit has been registered with the  TDS and you will be provided with a certificate of registration confirming that your deposit is  protected by the Dispute Service Limited.

    You can check this online via the internet web site for the TDS, deposits@tds.gb.com to check the  authenticity of the deposit registration by entering the unique identification code provided on  your deposit registration certificate.

    Once the tenancy ends, if there is a dispute regarding how the deposit should be allocated, Michael  Hardy Lettings will in conjunction with your Landlord try and resolve the dispute within 10 working  days from your checkout.

    If your Landlord managed your tenancy you will be required to agree the end condition of the  property direct with your Landlord and any charges that may be required.

    Once you have both agreed, if there are any charges required from your deposit both parties will be  required to confirm this in writing to Michael Hardy Lettings to enable us to refund the balance of  your deposit.

    In the event an agreement cannot be met between the Tenant and the Landlord. Depending on whether  your Landlord manages your tenancy or Michael Hardy managed the tenancy. The disputed amount of  deposit and any relevant documentation relating to the charges required are forwarded to the TDS;
    following which an independent case  examiner (ICE) will deal with the dispute in accordance with the scheme rules.

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    Once you have found a suitable property
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    We will ask you to complete the tenants questionnaire and you will be required to pay holding deposit of one weeks rent to remove the property from the market.

    We will require two forms of identification to be provided prior to the start date of your tenancy.

    This can be given in the form of a driver's licence with your photograph on or a valid passport or a recent utility bill with your name and current address on.

    CHARGES

    The only charges made to the Tenant will be those permitted by the Tenant Fees Act 2019. In addition to the rent, utilities, council tax, and deposit, the Tenant may be required to pay the following:

    • A refundable holding deposit to secure the property (no more than one week's rent)
    • Early release fees (as set out below)
    • Reasonable fees for the costs associated with the Tenant's default (e.g. late payment of rent or lost keys), and changes/amendments to a signed, completed tenancy agreement
    Early Release Fees

    1 Bedroom £276.00

    2 Bedrooms £324.00

    3 Bedrooms £348.00

    4 Bedrooms £384.00

    5 Bedrooms £492.00

    6 Bedrooms £540.00

    Referencing fees for new tenant/s £48.00 per person Landlords Media & Marketing fee

    £180.00 Inventory update £78.00

    NB: All printed charges are inclusive of VAT & will be subject to increase from time to time.

    TENANTS PROTECTION

    Michael Hardy is a member of TDS - G01644, which is a client money protection scheme, and also a member of Ombudsman Services - N00053/1, which is a redress scheme. You can find out more details

    on our website or by contacting Michael Hardy lettings office directly.

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Meet the team
  • Introduction

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    Based in Wokingham we currently manage over 500 properties for clients throughout the Reading, Wokingham, Finchampstead and Crowthorne areas. Over this time, the company has built a strong reputation for honesty, professionalism and innovative marketing. Originally Michael Hardy first opened an office in 1998 in Lower Earley and have now moved to our modern offices with the residential sales team in Broad Street in the heart of Wokingham Town Centre.

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    Dan Macdonald - Lettings Manager
    With an impressive 25-year tenure in management within the dynamic hospitality industry across the South East, Dan made a pivotal career change when he joined our sister company Haslams in 2021. He excelled in running a property portfolio and achieved the prestigious ARLA qualification in six-months. Leveraging his expertise in compliance, new tenancies, and sales support, Dan has now stepped up to lead the Michael Hardy letting team. Dan lives in Earley, Reading and loves his local area. He has a real passion for delivering exceptional service to our valued tenants, contractors, and landlords.
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    Helen Gibbons - Senior Letting Negotiator
    Helen has worked in the lettings industry for 17 years and joined Michael Hardy a little over 10 years ago. She works as both a senior negotiator and valuer, has extensive knowledge of the local area within which she operates. Personable, friendly and always willing to go the extra mile for her clients Helen is passionate about property. Working closely alongside Dan the head of Lettings Helen will always strive to give first class service.
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    Rebecca Brown - Office Manager
    Rebecca has worked for the Michael Hardy Lettings team for the past 8 years as Property Maintenance Manager. Her experience in this industry being 13 years in total. Rebecca and her work colleagues work closely with a variety of tried and tested trade professionals to ensure a smooth and cost effective service is provided to all of our Landlords ensuring that their properties are maintained to a high standard. You can contact Rebecca at rebecca@michael-hardy.co.uk
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    Helena Roseblade - Check-Out Administrator
    Helena first joined Michael Hardy Lettings in 2002 as a weekend lettings negotiator. Helena now works alongside Rebecca Brown in the maintenance department. Specifically dealing with property inspections and landlords gas safety checks. You can contact Helena at helena@michael-hardy.co.uk
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    Chloe Nice - Property Manager
    Having been in the Lettings Industry since 2014 when I started off as a Lettings Negotiator, I recently joined the Michael Hardy Team as a Property Maintenance Administrator. My aim is to provide outstanding customer service to ensure that all clients, landlords and tenants alike, are happy. Outside work I enjoy travelling and love to be social; spending lots of time with family and friends.
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    Caroline Wilson - Lettings Administrator
    Caroline has worked for the Michael Hardy Lettings team for the past 8 years as a property administrator. Her friendly approach to our Landlords and Tenants alike is something we pride ourselves on. Her role includes dealing with the "day to day" running of our Landlords properties which includes a variety of tasks from setting up new tenancies to dealing with Landlord and Tenant enquiries whilst working closely with our maintenance department. You can contact Caroline at caroline@michael-hardy.co.uk
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    Disclaimer

    The content on this Microsite has been uploaded by Michael Hardy, Crowthorne. Rightmove Group Limited makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the content, any queries should be sent directly to Michael Hardy, Crowthorne. Where properties are displayed on a page, this comprises a property advertisement. Rightmove Group Limited who operate the website Rightmove.co.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the advertisement or any linked or associated information, and Rightmove has no control over the content. These property advertisements do not constitute property particulars. The information is provided and maintained by Michael Hardy, Crowthorne. Please contact the agent directly to obtain any information which may be available under the terms of The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 or the Home Report if in relation to a residential property in Scotland and if you have any query over the content.