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Montrose Properties - About us
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    Established in 1981, the humble beginnings of Montrose Properties began in the front lounge of a semi-detached house on Fog Lane, and borrowed its name from the leafy Montrose Avenue in West Didsbury, where the first property on the books was located.

    Soon to be re-located to, what is still our current location, the old florist shop on the corner of Lapwing Lane and Clyde Road, Montrose steadily grew its portfolio of affordable flats and bedsits and an increasing amount of student accommodation.

    Over the years, in which was classed in the early days as a relatively deprived area, came an upturn. Many of the large period type properties of Clyde and Old Lansdowne Road that were once bedsits were re-developed into smart apartments and the introduction and investment of the small independent shops and bars, made West Didsbury one of the most popular locations to live in Manchester. With this came further expansion for us.

    We fast outgrew our tiny shop premises and expanded into the neighbouring property to increase our office back room space. Although the retail office is a modern and pleasant place to do business, it remains largely unchanged. Not being part of the main high street has its advantages, as customer parking is invaluable.

    Montrose is 100% owned by husband and wife team, Robert and Jennifer Wildblood who are involved on a daily basis. Jen has worked for the company since she was a teenager in the 80's and Rob since 1991, purchasing the business from the retiring owners in 1996. Being Landlords themselves for many years, they understand the needs and pressures involved and are keen to stress the importance of the company being able to offer a friendly, professional service with a mind to treat the property they manage for others as their own.

    Having a strong team is important. Ben Smith has been our loyal general manager since 1994 and is also a Landlord. Along with a low staff turnover from a range of backgrounds this adds up to a wealth of experience.

    We are judged not just by how efficiently we can let and manage properties, but how quickly and effectively we can carry out repair works. Our On Line Reporting software not only helps speeds up repair times, but is an essential date and time stamped record of notifications to help us keep on improving our service.

    We see ourselves as the bond between landlord and tenant and provide a service to an essential part of people's lives. Not only is it full of legislation and legal requirements, it's dealing with peoples' homes.

    Being part of the community is important to us and being involved in local funding, sponsorship and charities fundamentally helps the local area to be an attractive place to be.

    We may not be part of a multi branch chain or large franchise, but we are a stable, local business providing excellent, more personal service to landlords, tenants and local contractors which benefits all.

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Landlords
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    Let Only Service
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    A service on its own, or the first part of our Full Management service.

    Visit and agree rental value

    We like to visit your property to take details of the accommodation and agree a rental valuation. Rents should include ground rents or service charges but exclude council tax and utilities. We answer any questions you may have so please don't hesitate to ask.

    Marketing, Viewings and References

    We will take high resolution internal and external digital photographs and a walk through video tour can also be arranged and uploaded. Your property will be digitally marketed on our website, social media portals and Rightmove and will be displayed in our office window.

    Accompanied viewings are arranged or if you prefer, arranged with you directly should you wish to meet the potential tenant. Interested tenants are then given an initial brief application form to help you or us decide on which tenants to put forward for referencing. An initial holding deposit is paid, to be topped up to at least one calendar month once referencing is completed.

    We fully reference and credit check potential tenants, asking for a guarantor for students and applicants falling closely under the desired affordability. If the referencing outcome is not at all favourable, we will decline the applicant and remarket the property. We do all that we can to ensure that properties in our care are not let to unsuitable applicants.

    Deposits and Agreements

    You are required by law to protect the tenant's deposit with one of the available deposit protection schemes within 30 days of the tenant paying the deposit. We can help you with this but cannot release the deposit to you until this is done. If we are to manage your property, we will hold the deposit until the end of the tenancy and register the deposit with the TDS Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

    We will prepare the tenancy agreement, including any specified extra clauses, and ask the tenants to sign it. We can sign the agreement on your behalf and you will be sent a copy of all paperwork.

    Move In, Rent Collection and Inventory

    We will arrange a date for the tenant to move in with you and arrange with you how the rent is to be paid. If you go on to use our full management service, this will be by direct debit from the tenant to our fully insured clients account.

    You should supply us with an inventory and condition report, preferably with photographs that we will print and ask the tenants to sign. If required, we can supply an inventory for you. Keys will be issued and the tenant asked to sign for them.

    The council, local water authority and utility companies are informed of the details of the tenants and the dates they are due to move in.

    If the Letting is all you have commissioned us to do, this completes our service to you and your tenant.

    Required 

    Energy Performance Certificate EPC

    To market your property an EPC is legally required. You will need to provide a copy of this to us before we can market the property. We can organise a certificate if required and it will be valid for ten years.

    Gas and Electricity Regulations

    You should provide us with a current gas safety certificate from a Gas Safe registered engineer and an Electrical Inspection Condition Report EICR from a qualified electrician. Again, we can organise these if required.

    Insurance 

    Mortgage


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    Full management service
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    Most of our clients are letting properties for convenience, investment or both. They are looking for proper financial reward without the worry of close involvement. At the same time they want to be assured that they have not lost control of their property. This Full Management service is designed to meet these objectives in every detail and can be catered to your individual needs involving you as much or as little as you wish.

    Our Full Management Service includes everything detailed in our Let Only Service, plus the following.

    Rent Collection

    Our tenants are normally regular payers by direct debit and we have few problems in this area. Our computerised systems monitor rents when due. Any non payment, for any reason, is quickly obvious and rigorously pursued. Any difficulties receive personal attention.

    Safe Remittance

    Rents, less commission and expenses, reach you safely via BACS. We instruct our bank electronically and they transfer the amount to your account as cleared funds so the money is immediately useable. No lost cheques, postal problems or visits to the bank!

    Clear Records

    Our monthly statements keep you fully informed, detailing rent due and collected from your tenant. It shows your income and expenditure along with the amount sent to your bank. We can also send you end of year tax summaries upon request or previous statements. We send statements by e-mail and by request in the post.

    Security

    Tenants found by us have passed our referencing procedure. We fully reference and credit check potential tenants, asking for a guarantor for students and applicants falling closely under the desired affordability. If the referencing outcome is not at all favourable, we will decline the applicant and remarket the property. As added security, we can also offer Comprehensive Rent Guarantee insurance for landlords as an add on service or inclusive in our Management plus service.

    Repairs and Maintenance

    We can deal with all running repairs, sometimes at no cost. We investigate larger repair needs, obtain estimates and seek your approval. We check work is completed. We ensure the work on routine maintenance contracts is carried out. We will arrange for annual gas checks to be carried out by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer as this is a legal requirement. We can use your contractors or ours. We will arrange for an electrical safety inspection when required, usually every five years. We will arrange for risk assessments and legionnaires testing to be carried out when necessary and arrange for any works to be carried out in relation to House in Multiple Occupation HMO  Licensing. We have our own in house maintenance team for smaller jobs, can supply a basic range of blinds and furniture, and we provide a project management service for larger refurbishment work.

    A detailed electronic inventory with photographic evidence is arranged. This is a detailed inventory and condition report admissible in court or to any dispute resolution service that may be required. Should there be any dilapidations at the end of the tenancy that we feel should be paid for by the tenant but the tenant does not agree with, the inventory is used to determine the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy.

    Easily Available

    From a tenants and landlords view point, the managing agent's reputation is often judged by the speed and quality that maintenance issues are resolved. 24 hour contact is essential whether it is for water leaks or simply a tenant being locked out of the property. We operate a true 'Out of Hours' service where tenants can speak to us for those matters that just cannot wait. Information is issued giving details of what to do and who to call outside of our normal office hours. Tenants can report any maintenance issues any time online to our 'Online Repair Reporting' software via our website.

    Property Visits

    We visit each property in our care periodically, not just to check that tenants are treating your property respectfully but for signs of wear and tear that may need addressing. For example, overflow pipes running to the outside is a common cause of problems that sometimes are not reported by tenants. This is not just a waste of water but causes damp intrusion problems that then become costly to repair.

    Queries, Complaints and Advice

    We deal with all the day to day questions of your tenant. We can involve you as much or as little as you wish.

    Hassle Free General Management

    We relieve you of the hassle of managing property related bills. We obtain estimates for larger work, deal with contractors and oversee regular maintenance contracts. We guide you over legal issues and oversee notices when the tenant is due to move out.

    Tenant Move Out

    A detailed digitally photographed check out report is created when the tenant moves out. We check the inventory from the start of the tenancy and agree any repair costs with the tenant. At the checkout inspection we take meter readings and ensure the property is left secure. Once we have received all proof that utility bills have been paid up to date, we refund the deposit balance, minus any repair costs, to the tenant subject to the rules of the deposit protection scheme.

    Prepare For Re-Let

    Immediately after your tenant has moved out, preparation for your new tenant's occupation takes place. Our property cleaning service is made available and any minor repairs are noted and dealt with. Properties are re-marketed from the time the tenant gives us notice to vacate. You are notified of the date and we will re-market the property unless we hear differently from you. We often have properties re-let in good time and just require a few days in-between tenancies to carry out our maintenance checks and a new inventory.

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    Management Plus
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    Management Plus is for the landlord who requires further peace of mind. The service is the same as our 'Full Management Service' but also includes the backing of our 'Rent Guarantee and Legal Assistance insurance' should the tenant default on the rent payments. This will be covered by our scheme along with legal assistance for eviction proceedings.

    A detailed inventory with the backing of photographic evidence is included at no extra charge. This is a detailed inventory and condition report admissible in court or to any dispute resolution service that may be required. Should there be any dilapidations at the end of the tenancy that we feel should be paid for by the tenant but the tenant does not agree with, the inventory is used to determine the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy.

    No re-let fees. Your property is re-let for free and the cost of protecting and registering the new deposit is included.

    An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is also included free of charge if you don't already have one.

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    Project management 
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    After several years, properties become in need of a little TLC and perhaps require a new kitchen, bathroom or general refurbishment throughout.

    We can manage the process of refurbishment as part of our Project Management Service.

    We have regular, trusted contractors including kitchen and bathroom fitters, electricians, plumbers, decorators, carpet suppliers and fitters, cleaners, window fitters and dressers.

    We can pull all contractors together at the right times to provide quality work to a reasonable time scale.

    Often the marketing of property can commence at an earlier stage to ensure your property is let and ready to move in as soon as the work is finished, giving you added assurance that your void period will be as short as possible.

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Tenants
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    Our service is friendly, personal and professional. It is our intention to give both landlords and tenants absolute satisfaction with our service. We have been established since 1981 and have a very experienced team. So why should you consider using Montrose Properties?

    Most people come to us because they have already seen a property they are interested in online, but we can offer more than simply arranging viewings and showing you around properties.

    New To The Area? Let Us Drive You!

    If you're new to the area and unsure where and where not to live in and around Manchester, come in and have a chat with us and we'll let you know the go's and don't go's around town.

    We work differently to estate agents. We're happy to try and match your needs to a suitable property and once we've arranged some viewings for you, 'We'll Drive You There'.

    We'll pull a shortlist of properties together that may be of interest, meet you at our office and we'll give you the round trip!

    So don't waste time waiting for estate agents to turn up in the cold and the rain - try us first!

    You can of course meet us at the property if it's more convenient.

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    • Introduction

      Testimonials 
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      Luisa Mafra
      Within the year I have spent in my current property I haven't had a problem with them. If anything goes wrong they take care of it in a flash. If I have a request they are always keen to answer. I can only say I am happy with their services and with the quick responses.



      Zoe S
      Probably the nicest lettings agents in the whole Manchester area, very professional, quick to respond and all very nice. If i hadn't moved out of Manchester I would have rented another property from them. Having a good letting agent is really rare in places like Manchester - Montrose are definitely one to trust.




      James Ball
      I found Montrose after graduating and moving to South Manchester. I rented a shared house with them and then a lovely one bedroom apartment in West Didsbury. I always found them to be friendly and helpful. A few years later, they looked after my home that I had purchased in Didsbury. I had 5 years of trouble-free letting while I worked abroad. I appreciated their low staff turnover and expertise in looking after my home.



      Laura
      I can't recommend them highly enough.



      Alan
      I couldn't praise this letting agency high enough.



      Russell Kennaugh
      "Was really happy with the service i received from Montrose. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and helped make the process of renting easy and stress-free. They were also very quick with any repair issues i had with my flat. Would definitely recommend!"



      Laura Boyes
      "An excellent agent for landlords and tenants. They are professional, knowledgable and courteous. They have such good knowledge of the legal aspects of letting and make a real effort to keep landlords informed of changes to legislation and tenants safe. They will go above and beyond to help with repairs and maintenance and really make letting your flat hassle-free. I would highly recommend them to both landlords and tenants."



      N Watts
      "Montrose Properties were our landlords last year, and they are fantastic! The team is friendly and have been generous with time and help. I had problems with starting up a direct debit at the start of the year, and Montrose were very helpful and understanding about the issue. I felt as a tenant I was cared for and I couldn't recommend them more!"


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    Disclaimer

    The content on this Microsite has been uploaded by Montrose Properties Ltd, West Didsbury. Rightmove Group Limited makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the content, any queries should be sent directly to Montrose Properties Ltd, West Didsbury. 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 Montrose Properties Ltd, West Didsbury. 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.