Our Landlords Journey

Thank you for your interest in the Landlords Journey and its process. Whether you are a first time or multiple property landlord we would be delighted to help you.

 

The property market is constantly changing and evolving. It’s vital that you are advised correctly with the changing legislations and the value of your property when letting.

 

Potter’s let and manage a wide variety of rental properties in key locations around Woodbridge, Ipswich, Stowmarket and the surrounding Suffolk villages. 'We treat every home as if it’s our own’ Whether Landlords have years of experience or are new to lettings, each needs the reassurance that their agent understands their requirements and desires and is able to deliver a professional service which suits them and their property best.

 

We understand your property is likely to be one of your most valuable assets and it is essential it is carefully let and managed. We act on behalf of many client landlords, from the single property Landlord to multi property portfolio holders. We are 'available 24/7' and our office is open 6 days a week to quickly respond to tenants, liaise with contractors and to keep you fully informed about your rental.

 

Our office is manned by our local experienced family staff who will always display enthusiasm, integrity and professionalism. As a 'Safe Agent' with Client Money Protection our Landlords can also be certain their monies are fully protected when using Potter's.

 

Potter's Residential Lettings service is a personal one, tailored to meet the needs of each individual landlord. Whilst helping tenants to enjoy their rental we act for you, the Landlord and endeavour to maintain high professional standards worthy of your complete trust.

 

At Potter's we provide our clients with the information they require to make a properly informed decision. Every client has different objectives and it is our job to tailor our service to your individual needs. Through in-depth knowledge of the area and the utilisation of a variety of comparable data, we will provide you with as much information as possible to formulate the correct marketing and pricing strategy for you.

 

Our aim is to ensure that every landlord's experience of letting their property is positive as well as profitable, looking after your property as if it were our own.

 

A Choice of Letting

We provide a comprehensive range of letting services to suit experienced, overseas or first-time landlords. Our services include marketing, referencing, tenancy agreements, inventories and schedules of condition, rent reviews, rent disbursements, property management and access to a selection of rent guarantee protection. In addition, we can provide landlords with valuable investment advice based on extensive local market knowledge and an insight into local development plans.

 

Whilst our services competitively priced, we will not cut corners. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this in greater detail and explain why Potter's are the local agent you should trust to provide you with the service you require.

 

Let Only / Tenant Find Service

 

This service is designed for landlords who have the knowledge, skills and contacts to manage their property and finances but wish to benefit from Potter's expertise in marketing the property and thorough referencing of prospective tenants. We will do all the initial paperwork, referencing and handover but the tenant will then deal directly with you as Landlord.

 

Fully Managed

Our Portfolio Management Service is ideal for landlords who require property management with one point of contact and an agent who has expertise in ensuring individual or portfolios achieve the best possible yield and that void periods are kept to a minimum.

 

Our Lettings and Management and Estate Agency departments work closely together to help landlords grow their portfolio with sensible Buy to Let advice securing the right properties for the Suffolk lettings market.

 

Please contact us on 01394 447487 for more information on our services to landlords.

 

Our lettings process is set out below and if you need any further advice or information, please contact us and we will be delighted to assist.

 

Contacting us to arrange your valuation

So you have decided to let your property! To get started, you can complete the ‘Request a valuation’ from this website or contact us directly so we can make an appointment for your marketing appraisal and rental valuation. We provide this FREE with no obligation to the current property owner. It allows you to take advantage of our specialist and professional lettings advice - essential if you want to maximise the return on your rental investment.

 

Preparing your property for let

We have over 120 years’ experience of the local rental market covering Woodbridge, Ipswich, Stowmarket and the surrounding Suffolk villages and can advise you on how to prepare your property for your chosen tenant market, whether this is for professional or company lets, families or students and furnished or unfurnished.

 

Planning for viewings

We accompany everyone who views your property to ensure that it is presented to them in the most effective and desirable way, whatever their specific needs, and to be on hand to answer any questions that they may have about renting your property. You should make sure that the property is fully cleaned and any repair works are complete before viewings take place. Further items such as property and appliance manuals being in view, keys working correctly, doors and windows opening and locking efficiently will help to reassure potential tenants that your property is well looked after and provide the maximum opportunity to let the property quickly and at the best rental.  An empty property (or ‘void’ as it is known) is not producing any income!

 

Progressing Lettings

 

Please note that progression of a letting beyond the Letting Administration and the Memorandum of Letting is subject to the Agency Agreement terms and conditions agreed for the service selected.

 

Receiving offers and taking applications

Our Letting Administration includes when a viewer wants to make an offer to rent the property we will contact you to confirm the details provided by the prospective tenant and any specific requirements. We agree these provisionally ‘subject to contract’ before we progress an application and take a Holding Deposit equivalent to 1 weeks rent including the Memorandum of Letting.

 

The provisional details will include the rent payable, tenancy deposit due, planned start date, duration of the letting and any special requests or terms together with brief details of the prospective tenant’s current employment. In addition, a deadline for Agreement Date will be agreed with the prospective tenant.

 

Taking up references

Our Tenant Application Progression service requires all prospective tenants to fully complete a reference application form including their current employer and landlord. Additional enquires will be made if required from former employers and landlords and a personal referee. A credit reference agency will take up the references, including a credit check.

 

Your rent payment

We will arrange to receive the first rent payment before the start of tenancy and, if we are collecting the rent thereafter, monthly on the same day of the month.

 

The tenancy deposit

We will arrange to collect a tenancy deposit when your tenant signs the tenancy agreement and before the actual start of the tenancy. The tenancy deposit is equivalent to 5 weeks rent which will be subsequently registered with the tenancy deposit scheme (The Deposit Protection Service).

 

Commencement of tenancies

We will contact you to arrange the signing of the tenancy agreement and all other tenancy documentation.

 

Collection of keys

Once all the tenancy administration arrangements are complete, we will let your new tenants know that the keys are ready for collection. This is usually organised prior to an appointment on the day of your proposed tenancy start date. To ensure a smooth handover, please confirm that the property is ready and available for occupation, or if not, please let us know the expected available date as a matter of urgency.

 

Congratulations you have let your property!

 

Our administration and arrangement fees

Following the start of the tenancy we will provide you with copy documents for your files, including the signed tenancy agreement, and deduct our fees and any charges due from the first month’s rental payment before paying over the balance to you.