Lettings
Cosgroves is a long-established, family-owned and operated business. What sets us apart is our down-to-earth, pragmatic business ethics, with honesty and approachability a key part of our company. We will provide you with the information you need to make letting your property as efficient and beneficial as possible, not vacant promises.
We tailor our service to meet property owners’ needs, whether that’s a simple ‘introduction only’ service or our ‘full management’ package – marketing your property, sourcing the tenant, carrying out reference checks, preparing tenancy agreements and collecting rent.
Why choose Cosgroves?
Our Introduction only and Full Management packages both include:
- An initial inspection of the property – providing you with property particulars, advice on its rental value and potential target markets.
- Marketing the property – advertising through property marketing websites, taking photographs and carrying out accompanied viewings.
- Finding suitable tenants – conducting reference checks and preparing a Tenancy Agreement.
- Pre-move in – final check of the property and logging the deposit with a government authorised tenancy deposit scheme.
- Move-in – checking tenants into the property and making them fully aware of how everything works.
- Completion – collecting the pre-agreed rent payment and transferring this into your bank account.
Full Management includes the following extras:
- Rental payments – each month we will collect the rent and pay this over to your account, providing you with receipts for these payments. We check daily on any rent payments which are late, taking on the responsibility of chasing the tenant to make sure it is paid, and keeping you up to date with our findings, so you aren’t left in the dark.
- Regular property inspections – we will visit the property every four months to ensure that it is being properly cared for. We will then send you an inspection report.
- Organising maintenance issues – the tenant reports straight to us and we subsequently arrange any works that need carrying out.
- End of tenancy – a full and thorough checkout of the property is conducted and if necessary any dilapidations repaired before the deposit is returned to the tenant(s).
Please see our Terms and Conditions.
Additional Extras
You have duties under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to arrange maintenance by a CORGI-registered installer for all pipe work, appliances and flues, which you own and have provided for your tenants use. You must also arrange for an annual gas safety check to be carried out before new tenants take occupation of the property and every 12 months thereafter by a CORGI-registered installer. You must keep a record of the safety check for 2 years and issue a copy to Cosgroves so that we may pass it onto the tenants within 28 days of the check being completed. If you wish us to organize the Gas Safety Check on your behalf we can do so at a cost of £65 plus vat and £15 per each additional appliance.
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) gives home owners and tenants’ information on the energy efficiency of their property. Changes in Law introduced on 1st October 2008 state that you will need to supply an EPC to Cosgroves so that we can make it available to prospective tenants. An EPC is only required for a property which is self-contained and is valid for 10 years. We can arrange this for you if you so wish, please see a further breakdown of costs below:
| Bedrooms |
Price |
| Studio |
£60 |
| 1 |
£70 |
| 2 |
£75 |
| 3 |
£80 |
| 4+ |
£85 |
These prices are subject to VAT and payment must be made before marketing of the property can commence.
The prices below are subject to VAT and are for a standard DVD inventory to include written meter readings. We reserve the right to quote a higher fee for large or elaborately furnished properties.
| Bedrooms |
Unfurnished |
Furnished |
| Studio |
£55 |
£65 |
| 1 |
£60 |
£70 |
| 2 |
£70 |
£85 |
| 3 |
£80 |
£95 |
| 4 |
£90 |
£110 |
| 5 |
£105 |
£125 |
Checkouts will be carried out by Cosgroves for fully managed properties at no cost to the Landlord. Should it be necessary to use an independent company to perform the checkout procedure the cost will be borne by the Landlord.
There is a requirement under The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (a statutory law), which states that the landlord of a premises must maintain the fixed wiring in a safe and serviceable condition. A Periodic Inspection Report, recommended at intervals of not more than five years, is considered the best method of demonstrating compliance with this Act. Cosgroves are accredited to Portsmouth City Council who require all landlords to carry out a full test of the fixed wiring thus providing the required proof of care on behalf of the landlord. As part of our letting service, Cosgroves can arrange for a qualified engineer to visit your property and carry out a full test of the fixed wiring and any appliances as necessary. Please enquire for the current prices.
We will contact all the utility companies with the relevant meter readings at the commencement of each tenancy. We will make arrangements for accounts to be sent to the new tenants. The charge for this will be £27.50 + VAT.
We will make any claim exceeding £50.00 on your behalf, on your Building or House Contents Insurance policy subject to an hourly rate of £27.50 plus VAT.
We will conduct a full check of the inventory at the end of the tenancy and if necessary, negotiate with the tenants concerning any dilapidations and the replacement of any missing or damaged items. If the cost involved exceeds the deposit we shall authorise only such work to be done as can be covered by the deposit. The deposit is not returned to the tenant until these costs have been agreed by all parties concerned. There are two types of tenancy deposit protection schemes available for landlords and letting agents (insurance-based schemes and custodial schemes) and all schemes provide a free dispute resolution service. Under the insurance based scheme if an agreement is reached about how the deposit should be divided, Cosgroves will return all or some of the deposit. If there is a dispute, Cosgroves must hand over the disputed amount to the scheme for safekeeping until the dispute is resolved. Under the custodial scheme if an agreement is reached about how the deposit should be divided, the scheme will return the deposit, divided in the way agreed by both parties. If there is a dispute, the scheme will hold the deposit until the dispute resolution service or courts decide what is fair.
We will organise routine and emergency maintenance, cleaning and repairs and make such purchases as we may in our discretion consider necessary without further authorisation up to the limit of £200 subject to there being no liability on the part of the tenant for such items of work. Where urgent or emergency work needs to be carried out we will reserve the right to organise such work to avoid further damage or deterioration occurring, without prior consultation. The landlord would subsequently be notified. Funds for repair and maintenance will be met from rental income and if necessary, with the tenant’s prior agreement, the deposit to meet such expenses. No work will be carried out unless we are holding sufficient funds on behalf of the landlord, which are available for the purpose.
Please let us know whether you would be willing to allow any pets to reside in your property and if so specifying exactly what animals are acceptable.
We will collect 5 weeks rent as a deposit (unless an alternative sum is agreed by the Landlord) as a returnable security deposit (“the deposit”) against possible damage or dilapidations by the tenant or tenants' family or guests to furniture, fixtures and fittings. The deposit will be protected in a government-authorised tenancy deposit scheme. For a letting only service the Landlord will be required to register with the Deposit Protection Service to allow transfer of the deposit from Cosgroves. (Visit www.depositprotection.com for further details). Failure to register with the Deposit Protection Service could mean that the deposit is returned to the tenants in full at the end of the term.
