Question 1

How much does a letting agent cost?

Accepted Answer

Ours are published in full on our fees page rather than quoted on request. Tenant Find is 50% of the first month's rent (60% incl. VAT), with a minimum of £450 + VAT. Tenant Find & Rent Collection is 30% of the first month's rent plus 6% of the monthly rent + VAT. Full Management is 30% of the first month's rent plus 8% of the monthly rent + VAT, and includes the inventory, check-out report and deposit registration that the other services charge for separately. There are no hidden renewal or admin fees on top.

Question 2

How much rent can I achieve for my property?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the property, its condition and what comparable homes nearby are genuinely letting for, not what they are advertised at, which is often a different number. A free rental valuation gives you a realistic figure and what would change it: a four-bedroom detached house we let in Hale achieved £2,400 pcm, and a property we took over elsewhere went from £400 to £600 pcm once it was brought up to standard and the rent was reviewed properly. We would rather give you an honest figure than the flattering one that wins the instruction and then gets reduced three weeks later.

Question 3

Should I manage my property myself?

Accepted Answer

Self-managing works well for some landlords, usually those living close to the property, with time during the working day, a settled tenant and a good grasp of the compliance. It stops working when any of those change. The honest test is not the fee: it is whether you are comfortable being the person a tenant calls at 7pm about a leak, whether you are confident your certificates, deposit protection and prescribed documents are all in order, and whether you are willing to have the rent review conversation. If any of those make you hesitate, management costs less than it saves.

Question 4

What does full property management include?

Accepted Answer

Marketing and letting the property, rent collected and remitted each month with a statement, arrears chased, periodic inspections with a written report, maintenance reported, quoted, instructed and followed up, compliance tracked and renewed, rent reviews, tenant communication, notices and legal support, and the inventory, check-out report and deposit registration included as standard. In practice: your tenant contacts us rather than you, and you hear from us when there is a decision to make rather than a task to do.

Question 5

What happens if my tenant stops paying rent?

Accepted Answer

On Full Management we chase it immediately rather than waiting for the month to end, because arrears are far easier to resolve in week one than in month three. You are told early. We keep a documented record of every demand and every chase, which is what matters if it ever has to be dealt with formally, and we can serve the appropriate notice and support possession proceedings if it comes to that (via our solicitor). We can also arrange Rent Protection Insurance through our referencing agency, subject to terms, if you would rather the income was underwritten.

Question 6

Who deals with maintenance and repairs?

Accepted Answer

We do, on Full Management. Your tenant reports repairs through our online maintenance portal, which timestamps and records everything. We assess it, obtain quotes where the job warrants it, instruct a trusted contractor and follow it through to completion. You are asked to approve anything over an agreed limit and left alone below it, which is the point of the service. You should not be arranging a plumber from a work meeting.

Question 7

How often are inspections carried out?

Accepted Answer

On our Full Management service we carry out the first inspection three months after the tenant moves in, then every six months thereafter, so problems are caught while they are still small. You get a written report with photographs, so you can see the condition of your property without visiting it. Inspections are also where the things tenants do not think to report get picked up: a small leak, damp starting, a smoke alarm that has been taken down.

Question 8

What does the Renters' Rights Act mean for landlords?

Accepted Answer

It is the biggest change to renting in decades. The main effects for landlords are the end of Section 21 'no fault' evictions, assured shorthold tenancies moving to periodic tenancies rather than fixed terms, possession being obtained through defined grounds instead, rent increases running to a set annual process, and new rules covering pets, rental bidding, property standards and a landlord ombudsman. The provisions are being brought in in stages rather than all at once. What it means in practice is that good record-keeping, watertight compliance and properly referenced tenants matter more than they ever have. We will tell you exactly what applies to your tenancy and when, call us rather than guess, because the position moves.

Question 9

How will TQ Lettings secure the tenant's deposit?

Accepted Answer

TQ Lettings will register the tenant's deposit with the Deposit Protection Service, a government-approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme, ensuring it is safely protected throughout the tenancy period.

Question 10

Can TQ Lettings provide an inventory for my property?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer a comprehensive inventory service to document the condition and contents of your property at the start of the tenancy. It is included as standard on our Fully Managed service.

Question 11

How will my property be marketed for rental?

Accepted Answer

We employ a dynamic online strategy for maximum exposure, including high quality photographs, floor plans, and listings on leading property portals, social media and the TQ Lettings website.

Question 12

Do I need to inform my mortgage lender when letting out my property?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You must inform your mortgage lender of your intent to let the property, as your mortgage terms may include specific stipulations about renting.

Question 13

What property management services does TQ Lettings provide?

Accepted Answer

We offer a full suite of property management services, from maintenance checks to legal compliance, all designed to alleviate the workload on landlords.

Question 14

Does TQ Lettings offer rent protection services?

Accepted Answer

We can provide landlords with options for Rent Protection Insurance through our referencing agency, subject to terms and conditions, to safeguard your income.

Question 15

Is TQ Lettings affiliated with any professional bodies?

Accepted Answer

We are proud members of the Property Redress Scheme and the Client Money Protect scheme, ensuring adherence to the highest industry standards.

Question 16

Can I choose to rent out individual rooms instead of the whole property?

Accepted Answer

We can assist with renting out individual rooms, often leading to a higher yield and ensuring efficient use of your property. If your house is an HMO you will need an HMO licence from your local authority.

Question 17

What is an EPC and how long is it valid for?

Accepted Answer

An Energy Performance Certificate is a legal requirement before marketing your property. It shows the property's energy efficiency and is valid for ten years. A minimum rating of E is required to let.

Question 18

What kind of tenant referencing process does TQ Lettings use?

Accepted Answer

We conduct thorough referencing including credit checks, employment verification and previous landlord references, to ensure reliable tenants.

Question 19

How do I change letting agents?

Accepted Answer

Check the notice period in your current management agreement, give your existing agent notice in writing, and tell us the date it expires. From there it is our job rather than yours: we collect the tenancy agreement, deposit registration, certificates, inventory, keys and payment history from the outgoing agent, check the property is compliant, and introduce ourselves to your tenant. Most landlords spend under an hour on the whole process.

Question 20

How do I move my property from another letting agent to TQ Lettings?

Accepted Answer

Send us the property address and your current management agreement. We will read the agreement, tell you plainly what it commits you to and when you can move, and handle the handover with your existing agent. You give the notice, because the contract is between you and them, but we will tell you exactly what to write. If the honest answer is that waiting a few weeks will cost you less, we will say so.

Question 21

Can TQ Lettings take over the management if I already have a tenant in place?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Taking over an ongoing tenancy mid-term is routine for us and you do not have to wait until the tenancy ends. We take on the existing tenancy as it stands, check the deposit is properly protected and the certificates are in date, write to your tenant with the new payment and repair-reporting arrangements, and run the tenancy from an agreed date. The tenant keeps the same tenancy and the same terms, the only thing that changes is who looks after it.

Question 22

Is it a lot of hassle to switch letting agents?

Accepted Answer

Not for you. The two things only you can do are giving notice to your current agent and confirming the date you want us to take over. Everything else is ours: chasing the file, checking the compliance, contacting the tenant, setting up the rent payments. The most common reason landlords stay somewhere they are unhappy is assuming it is complicated, and it usually is not.

Landlord questions & answers

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