What We Offer
We pride ourselves in providing a professional approach and personal offering to all our clients. Our team is united to achieve one goal, to always deliver an exceptional service.
What We Offer
From finding the right tenant to ongoing management of your property, award-winning Austin Hawk is known for our genuinely warm and welcoming professional approach. Our highly experienced lettings team are all locally based, passionate and knowledgeable about living in the area. As a team we are united to achieve one goal, to provide you with an exceptional service. This enables us to deliver solutions that maximise your rental income and minimise the impact on your time.
Advice Before You Buy
Whether it’s your first step to becoming a landlord or you’re looking to increase your portfolio, we can guide you in your property search. There are many aspects to consider before your purchase, from the type of property and areas that are in most demand, as well as the rent you are likely to achieve.
Communication
We know how important it is for us to help and support you throughout the lettings process using our extensive knowledge and expertise. Your experience is our priority, and we go above and beyond to handle every aspect as efficiently and as effectively as possible.
Effective Marketing
Our aim is to put your property in front of the widest audience possible to secure the best tenant at the right market value. Detailed descriptions and photographs make your property stand out and maximise enquiries.
Targeted Visibility
Your property will be matched to suitable tenants that we have on our extensive database. For maximum exposure and extensive visibility, we will promote your property on our website, Social Media and premier national portals including Rightmove and Zoopla.
Accompanied Viewings
Our property team will conduct all viewings, allowing us to meet any future tenants face to face, essential in deciding if the tenant is suitable for your property. You can then decide with our guidance which applicant best suits your rental property. All potential tenants are subject to 3rd party referencing.
Tenant Referencing
Having confidence in your tenant before they move in, is important. All our referencing is done through Rightmove, who provide the most thorough and comprehensive tenant referencing to ensure that only high-quality tenants occupy your property. This includes credit checks, employment verification, overall affordability and rental history reviews.
Deposits & Rent in Advance
Landlords and agents are permitted to charge a refundable holding deposit to remove a property from the market (refundable only if the landlord decides not to take the tenancy forward). A full deposit and agreed level of rent is then agreed before a tenant can move into your property.
Deposit Held in Accordance with DPS
It is a legal requirement for landlords to protect the deposit by holding the monies in an approved Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS). We are also members of “Safeagent”, an accreditation that focuses on consumer protection, ensuring landlords and tenants’ money is handled responsibly through a Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme and other measures.
Compliance Assurance
As your letting agent, we are here to help you navigate laws, comply with regulations and insurance, manage your property and ensure the safety and well-being of your tenants. The laws around these areas change regularly and we will keep you updated with changes and your obligations as a landlord.
Inventory & Schedule of Condition
An in-depth inventory with photographs and schedule of condition, is one of the most important documents in any tenancy. Time and date stamped, it provides crucial evidence of the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy and can be vital when resolving any disputes when the tenant vacates.
Contacting Utility Suppliers
We will contact utility providers on your behalf to pass on occupation dates and meter readings to ensure the transfer is as smooth as possible and the accounts are accurate.
Selective Licence Application
For properties we fully manage and that require a selective licence, we can for a fee apply for the selective licence on your behalf with the relevant council. If you wish to apply for the licence yourself, we can also provide guidance.
Receiving and Promptly Remitting your Rent
We use market leading software to receive and remit your rent payments. As soon as we receive the rent, any relevant deductions are made and the balance is sent to you within 24 hours. We remit rent to landlords every working day.
Monthly Statements
Each time money is remitted to your account an email will follow with a detailed statement. We keep everything in the cloud, so when you are required to complete your annual tax return, we can provide a detailed annual statement for you or your accountant if requested.
Notices, Renewals and Rental Increase Negotiation
If when a tenancy come to an end and both parties wish to extend, we will negotiate new terms and a rent increase where applicable on your behalf. We will then draw up the new tenancy agreement. If required, we can also serve appropriate notices should you wish to regain possession of the property.
Full Check-Out Report
At the end of the tenancy, we provide a neutral 3rd party inventory clerk who is a member of the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) to conduct all check-outs (additional charge depending on property size). It is always beneficial to have a professional checkout report, complete with photographs and details should there be any deposit disputes.
Returning the Deposit
After the check-out we will discuss any deductions required from the deposit. Once agreed by all parties the balance will be paid to the tenant. In the event of a dispute, we will handle this on your behalf via the DPS.
Property Checks and Detailed Reports
Our property assessor will arrange regular visits of the property and we will send a report to you with photographs. This will inform you of how the property is being looked after. We will advise the tenants of their continuing obligations and suggest any maintenance or repairs to you as needed.
Tenant Relationships
Effective communication is key to a good landlord-agency relationship and the same is the case for a good agency-tenant relationship. Whatever the issue that we are dealing with on your behalf, we are always on hand to answer questions or concerns that your tenant may have.
Maintenance and Repairs
Our experienced lettings team has relationships with local, trusted contractors who can be relied upon to visit your property and carry out any maintenance or repairs. If there is a problem, we will not only inform you but also provide you with a costed and timely solution without additional agency fees. If you wish to use your own contractors that’s fine with us, we will still arrange everything on your behalf.
Legal Expenses and Rent Guarantee
At an additional charge, we can arrange legal protection and rent guarantee insurance. This will give you protection if the worst happens. Further details are available on request.
