Ascentia Lettings and Property Management established in Newbury and covering Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. The managing partners have over 60 years combined experience within the residential housing market and can therefore offer a wealth of experience to both landlords and tenants. We are able to offer tailored services to landlords with either an individual property to let or a portfolio of properties.
We are able to offer:
Our Introduction service
Designed for those landlords who wish Ascentia Lettings to find suitable tenants and thereafter the landlords will manage the property themselves
or
Our Fully Managed service
Designed for those Landlords who require Ascentia Lettings to, in addition to locating suitable tenants, fully manage the property on their behalf during the course of the tenancy.
Both our Introduction and Management services are inclusive of a Rent warranty and legal services protection giving the landlord the peace of mind that they know their rent will always be paid.
At Ascentia Lettings we treat each landlord individually and you will always be dealt with by a director of the company. Please call to discuss your requirements for your existing property or if you are considering purchasing a property to let we would be pleased to offer advice at any stage. Please call 01635 522111.
Brief overview and Fee structure
Our Introductory Service
• A brief overview of this service is detailed below:
• We will prepare marketing details of the property and introduce for approval potential tenants, or agree in advance the extent of our authority to accept a tenant on the landlord's behalf.
• When a suitable tenant(s) is/are identified, we will instruct a retained credit checking agency (FCC Paragon) to carry out an electoral roll search and credit check, take up previous landlord's references and an employment reference and submit them to the landlord for approval. We shall carry out Right to rent checks. Should the tenant(s) be acceptable, the landlord will be provided with a Rent protection and legal expenses warranty as supplied by FFC Paragon details of which are available. The warranty will cover the initial 6 months the cost of which is incorporated within our initial fees. Renewals after the initial 6 months for a continuing tenant(s) will be charged.
• We will draw up the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement or Company agreement where appropriate and explain the terms and conditions fully to the in going tenant.
• If required we will prepare or update a detailed inventory and schedule of condition and agree this with the tenant at the commencement of the tenancy.
• On signing the Tenancy Agreement, we will collect from the tenant 5 weeks rent as a deposit and the first month's rent in advance. The Landlord should make arrangements to register the Tenants Deposit with one of the Government approved schemes or we can hold the deposit and register it with the TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme).
• At the start of the Tenancy we will read the meters and notify the various service companies of the change in occupation. We will notify the local authority of the change in occupation for the transfer of council tax obligations
• Once a Tenancy Agreement has been signed, we will forward to the landlord all the relevant documentation and the amount of the deposit (should the Landlord elect to hold the deposit) and the first month's rent less any disbursements and our fee.
• Our fee for the introductory service is £540 (including VAT). This is inclusive of providing the tenant's references and a Rent protection and legal expenses warranty as supplied by FCC Paragon, details of which are available. The warranty will cover the initial 6 months, thereafter renewals for a continuing tenant(s) will be available from Ascentia Lettings and Property Management Ltd .
• If we compile an inventory, our charge will vary depending on the size of the property.
This Fee is exclusive of:
Obtaining and providing a Tenant reference which is charged at £60.00 including VAT per potential Tenant. If the potential Tenant fails the referencing procedure due to insufficient income or lack of continuous employment, a Guarantor may be required. The Guarantor will be referenced in the same manner as that of the Tenant and at £60.00 including VAT.
Should a previous Landlord or Landlord's agent of a potential Tenant make a charge for a reference this in turn will be charged to our Landlord at cost.
This Fee is inclusive of:
Of providing a rent protection and legal expenses warranty as supplied by FCC Paragon. The warranty will cover the initial 6 months, thereafter renewals for a continuing Tenant(s) will be available from Ascentia Lettings and Property Management Ltd.
Our Management Service
• A brief overview of this service is detailed below:
We will prepare marketing details of the property and introduce for approval potential tenants, or agree in advance the extent of our authority to accept a tenant on the landlord's behalf.
• When a suitable tenant(s) is/are identified, we will instruct a retained credit checking agency (FCC Paragon) to carry out an electoral roll search and credit check, take up previous landlord's references and an employment reference and submit them to the landlord for approval. We shall carry out Right to rent checks. Should the tenant(s) be acceptable, the landlord will be provided with a Rent protection and legal expenses warranty as supplied by FFC Paragon, details of which are available. The warranty will cover the initial 6 months the cost of which is incorporated within our initial fees. Renewals after the initial 6 months for a continuing tenant(s) will be charged.
• We will draw up the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement or Company agreement where appropriate and explain the terms and conditions fully to the ingoing tenant.
• We will prepare or update a detailed inventory and schedule of condition and agree this with the tenant at the commencement of the tenancy.
• On signing the Tenancy Agreement, we will collect from the tenant 5 weeks rent as a deposit and the first month's rent in advance. We will hold the deposit and register it with the TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme).
• At the start and end of the Tenancy we will read the meters and notify the various service companies of the change in occupation. We will notify the local authority of the change in occupation for the transfer of council tax obligations.
• Once a Tenancy Agreement has been signed, we will forward to the landlord all the relevant documentation
• We will collect the rent in advance of each rental period. We will submit to the landlord each month a statement of account detailing income and expenditure, and credit the landlord's account with the balance of the monies due.
• We will if required arrange to pay on the landlord's behalf current outgoings such as, insurance premiums, service charges etc.
• We will investigate as far as possible any defects which are reported to us or which come to our notice. We will agree with the Landlord a maximum sum to be spent for any one maintenance item to be dealt with as they arise without further instruction from the landlord. We shall instruct maintenance contractors as required and the cost for which will be deducted from the next rental payment received. Larger items of maintenance expenditure will be referred to the Landlord
• We will carry out a routine inspection of the property quarterly, if no serious defect requiring inspection has been reported in the meantime.
• At the termination of the tenancy we will check the inventory and prepare a schedule of dilapidations if any. Any damage or dilapidation which may have occurred during the tenancy is recorded on the schedule, copies of which are sent to both landlord and tenant who agree what amount, if any, is to be deducted from the dilapidations deposit.
• If during our management there is a change in tenancy, we will check for any repairs that may need to be carried out, advise the landlord accordingly and await further instructions.
• Our fee for the Management Service is from 10% (including VAT) of the rent received which will be deducted from the rent paid to us each month.
• Our Pre Tenancy fee is £480.00 (including VAT).
This Fee is exclusive of:
Obtaining and providing a Tenant(s) reference which is charged at £60.00 including VAT per Tenant. If the Tenant fails the referencing procedure due to insufficient income or lack of continuous employment, a Guarantor may be required. The Guarantor will be referenced in the same manner as that of the Tenant and at £60.00 including VAT.
Should a previous Landlord or Landlord's Agent of a potential Tenant charge for a reference this in turn will be charged to our Landlord at cost.
This Fee is inclusive of:
Providing a rent protection and legal expenses warranty as supplied by FCC Paragon. The warranty will cover the initial 6 months, thereafter renewals for a continuing Tenant(s) will be charged at £78.00 (including VAT) for a further 6 months cover.
Not part of our Management fee or pre-Tenancy fee:
Corresponding with the Landlord and Tenant following the end of the Tenancy term confirming that the Tenancy shall continue as a Periodic Tenancy or provide the Landlord and Tenant with a new Tenancy Agreement to comply with case law and the Deregulation Act 2015. This will be charged at £120.00 including VAT.
If the property to be Let does not have a current EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) to comply with The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 we are able to supply a certificate at a charge of £102.00 including VAT.
• Our fee for compiling the inventory will vary depending on the size of the property.
Ascentia Lettings is a member of:
Safeagent, which is a client money protection scheme: www.safeagents.co.uk
The Property Ombudsman, which is a redress scheme: www.tpos.co.uk
The Tenancy Deposit Scheme: www.tenancydepositscheme.com
