Letting with Spencer Harvey couldn’t be easier
Becoming a landlord or investing in buy-to-let property can be a great way of generating a regular income and securing your financial future. It can also be a minefield of ever changing rules and regulations which could be a huge drain on your precious time and energy, so more and more landlords now take the wise choice of handing over the responsibility to a reputable licenced agent who can not only manage their property, they can also help to keep owners on the right side of the law and make being a landlord a whole lot more satisfying and stress-free.
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At Spencer Harvey, we understand our landlord’s needs. You want your property to produce a continuous yield and know that your property is being well cared for at all times. You want to know that you are up-to-date with your legal responsibilities and that there is always a way your tenants can correspond with your agent.
You also want to know that your property has been accurately valued and that you are not losing out on valuable income, so our expert valuers provide accurate and up-to-date rental appraisals that can also help identify ways to enhance your properties value. We can also offer helpful advice on appropriate fixtures, fittings and furniture that are within safety regulations.
Choosing the right agency is essential, when it comes to looking after your investment.
Thankfully you’re in safe hands at Spencer Harvey who are a ARLA Licensed letting agent.
There is currently NO mandatory regulation of letting and property management agents in the UK so why should I use an ARLA licenced letting agent?
While there is no national mandatory regulation of letting agents and landlords, there is a complex web of law, regulation and codes of practice governing let residential properties.
The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) is committed to providing the highest standards of letting and management service through its licensed agents. ARLA has set up its licensing scheme to provide landlords with:
- Best practice in the letting and management profession
- Consumer protection
- High quality service from reliable, responsible, qualified professional Agents
ARLA believes that all letting and property management agents should belong to a licensing scheme – so that consumers know that not only are they getting the highest quality service possible, but also so that that any unscrupulous, unethical and unprofessional agents are stopped from practising in the letting industry.
By using a licenced ARLA agent you are guaranteed:
- To be consulting with a qualified and trained agent who can give you professional and up to date guidance.
- Every year tenants and landlords lose thousands of pounds and suffer distress through dealing with agents who are inexperienced and do not deal with client money in a professional manner. ARLA Licensed letting agents hold your money in a designated client account and accounts are regularly subject to independent inspection. You will receive a professional service from an ARLA Licensed agent but if things go wrong neither tenants nor landlords will be left out of pocket.
- That you are dealing with an agent who follows a Code of Practice and Rules of Conduct laid down by their professional Body.
- That your agent has Professional Indemnity Insurance.
- That your agent keeps their client’s monies in a designated ring fenced client account that is verified and signed off by a professional chartered accountant and submitted to ARLA on an annual basis.
- That you have a route to redress should something go wrong.
What does licensing mean for you?
The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) is committed to providing the highest standards of letting and management service through its licensed agents.
ARLA has set up its licensing scheme to provide landlords and tenants with:
- Best practice in the letting and management profession
- Consumer protection
- High quality service from reliable, responsible, professional agents.
How am I better protected with a licensed agent?
A licensed ARLA agent is qualified and is required to keep up to date with the latest developments in the market and the changing legislation affecting letting and property management. Without this knowledge and expertise, whether you’re a tenant or a landlord you may be badly advised or misled – or you may even suffer financial loss as a result.
You can be assured that the service you receive is to the highest standard and your enquiry will be dealt with professionally and fairly.
In the unlikely event that things go wrong, a licensed ARLA firm has a written complaints procedure. If you are not completely satisfied with the service you have received from a licensed ARLA agent or firm. You have the option of taking your complaint to an independent adjudication and redress through the Property Ombudsman.
Every year, unlicensed agents cost UK Landlords and Tenants thousands of pounds because they don’t have protective measures in place to guarantee and insure your money.
What makes ARLA licenced agents different?
- Accounts are regularly independently inspected
- Understand and comply with complex legislative changes and best practice
- Attend regular training to keep skills and experience up-to-date
- Comply with the professional standards of the nationally recognised professional body for letting agent.