Landlords

Personal Homefinders is a versatile company focused on letting and managing residential property. We purchase investment property for landlords and we act as relocation agents. We are NOT estate agents and therefore we have no conflict of interest between letting and selling.

Our overall aim is to quickly match the best tenants to each property and to manage the letting cost-effectively for our landlords to maximise the return on their investment, whilst also maintaining our high professional standards and personal approach.

Property Management Standards

We treat each property as if it were our own, ensuring the condition when we take over the management is maintained throughout the tenancy, accepting reasonable wear and tear.

We do this by;
Fully credit-checking and referencing all tenants. This also enables us to offer Rent and Legal Guarantee for additional security on fully managed properties, subject to tenant status.

Visiting our fully managed properties on a quarterly basis, reporting back to you after each visit.

Employing our own maintenance team which has four fully equipped vans. In addition to decorating and gardening work, they carry out all the small maintenance jobs which would normally attract an expensive call out charge. This is much more cost effective for our landlords.

Only accepting houses to let which we consider to be of a high standard. Good quality properties attract good quality tenants.

Property Management Services

Our service includes:

• A free consultation visit by an experienced member of our staff without any obligation. This will cover advice on rental value, legal implications and how to maximise the potential of your property for the rental market.
• Preparation and marketing of property details via our website, office windows, local press and circulation to local and international companies / colleges as relevant. We also have a Property of The week mechanic and produce editorials weekly to promote key properties.
• Personally escorted viewings of your property by prospective tenants.
• Negotiation of terms of tenancy. References, credit checking and collection of deposits.
• Preparation of the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement and Notices.
• At the start of a tenancy, issue the keys and collect the first month's rent.
• Notify Utility companies and settle final accounts.
• Act as keyholder and contact in case of emergency and for maintenance issues.
• Quarterly property inspections with report issued to the Landlord to ensure a trouble-free let.
• Rent administration, with net remittances credited to our client's bank account. Monthly statements issued.
• Re-negotiation of the contract two months prior to the end of the lease.

We offer three levels of management service:

• Full Management
• Tenant Find and Rent Collection
• Tenant Find

A full breakdown and comparison of each service is available. Summary of Property Management Services

Non UK Resident Landlords

A large proportion of the portfolio of properties we manage are owned by landlords who reside outside of the UK and we can tailor our communication levels and also methods to best suit their needs. We are required to deduct tax at source for non resident landlords, although an exemption certificate can be applied for which will allow the rental income to be paid gross. Further information and downloadable forms can be found at the Inland Revenue website.

Corporate Lets
Personal Homefinders is also an established Relocation Agent and many international and national companies approach us to relocate their staff. A number of our properties are let to companies such as IBM, Pirelli, Esso, BAT, Norwich Union and Warner Lambert.

What are the benefits of a company let?

• The company usually pays the rent direct and are therefore more reliable for guaranteed rent paid on time.
• Company employees are usually home owners themselves, and therefore respect other people's property more than someone who has never owned their own home.
• Lease periods are often longer and renewed annually.

Student Lets

Many of our properties are let to students in the college towns of Southampton and Winchester and we work closely with the colleges to ensure our properties are not only marketed through their media channels but also that they meet their requirements and conditions for rental.

What are the benefits of a student let?

• Lease periods are for 12 months as a minimum
• New tenancies are agreed in the Spring proceeding a new academic year, which means that often there will be a guaranteed tenancy for up to 18 months at a time
• Rentals achieved can be higher as they are calculated by room rather than by property overall

Please contact any of our offices for a Landlord pack containing further information to be sent to you or register your interest and we will contact you to discuss further.