Buy-to-let has historically proven to be a sound investment, so it’s no wonder more people are entering the market to create a side income or protect their future.

Whether you’re a first-time landlord or juggling a portfolio of properties, our tailored services make it simple to enjoy the financial benefits letting can bring.

You may ask why you even need an agency to manage the process. Of course, you could do everything yourself, from vetting tenants to rent collection and sorting out emergencies – all while navigating the 150 pieces of legislation that apply to landlords.

However, being fully involved doesn’t suit everyone – especially if you want to create a passive income, reduce your work hours, or live some distance away. That’s why we have developed a three-tiered service designed to suit your specific needs and goals.

1) Let Only – for those who just need help finding a suitable tenant

Do you intend to manage the day-to-day running of your rental property, but don’t want the hassle of advertising, showing potential tenants around, and dealing with referencing? Let Only is the perfect option for you!

Firstly, we’ll make sure your property is fully compliant and ready to let. If you need us to arrange some of the legal documents, like the gas safety certificate and the electrical installation condition report, this is something we can help with.*

After you give us the go-ahead, we’ll take high-quality photographs of your property and provide a detailed floor plan. We’ll then prepare your advert and upload it to the leading property portals, Rightmove and Zoopla, and our social media channels.

After conducting all of the viewings, we will invite interested parties to fill out an application form before reporting key information back to you, so you can make an informed decision about who you feel is the most suitable tenant.

Once you have chosen who you’d like to occupy your property, we will request a holding deposit from the tenant (equivalent to one week's rent – the legal maximum) and carry out the required Right to Rent checks on receipt of this deposit.

Following successful checks, we move on to the referencing process, which applies to all tenants over 18 years old, securing guarantors if applicable.

Once the referencing process is complete, we will request one month's rent (the tenant should always pay one month in advance) and a five-week security deposit (currently the maximum you can take).

We’ll then set a move-in date and prepare the Tenancy Agreement, which will be issued along with all legal paperwork to the tenants. We’ll also obtain proof of service.

After we have everything in order, we’ll send copies of all the paperwork to you and, after deducting our fee, transfer the remaining money received so you can lodge the deposit into your chosen government scheme.

Note: Once the tenant has paid, you must lodge the deposit within 30 days and issue a prescribed information template.

After your tenant moves in, we’ll hand everything over to you.

2) Rent Collect – for those who need help finding a tenant AND collecting rent

If you’re already pretty handy or know good, trustworthy contractors, you may feel comfortable taking care of any maintenance issues at the property yourself. But ensuring that the rent is paid in full may be something that feels quite daunting.

What if the tenant stops paying or runs into a period of difficulty? How would you handle this scenario ¬– would you feel comfortable sending texts, emails and letters to keep them on track?

Our Rent Collect option gives you get everything that Let Only offers, but we’ll continue our working relationship by collecting the rent every month and transferring it to you after deducting our fees. We’ll also send you monthly statements that you can give to your accountant or use for your end-of-year tax return.

Building relationships and consistent communication with tenants is the best way to prevent and manage arrears. But should any problems arise, our experienced team will liaise with the tenants to create a clear plan to rectify the issue.

3) Fully Managed – for landlords who want minimal involvement

Do you want the rent to land in your account every month, safe in the knowledge that your property is being completely cared for? Then consider our full management package. With this service, you get everything that Let Only and Rent Collect offer, but we’re also the primary contact for any maintenance issues.

For your peace of mind, we’ll prepare a detailed inventory before your tenant moves in. After that, we’ll arrange bi-annual inspections of the property to ensure it’s being well treated, which involves issuing you a full report with photographs.

In addition, you and your tenants will have access to our online repair reporting system, where tenants can report problems 24/7 and find troubleshooting guides to avoid unnecessary callout charges. Communication is easy via the online system, and you’ll also have direct access to our lettings team via WhatsApp.

We work with many skilled contractors from every trade, and we can arrange for all types of maintenance jobs to be carried out on your behalf.

Take a look at our online reporting system by clicking the tab below:

Online Reporting System

For a complete list of fees for each service, visit our Landlord Fees page.

Additional Services

Whilst we consider ourselves expert marketeers and communicators when it comes to letting and managing your property, we also appreciate that sometimes a niche expert is the best person to provide add-on services that are crucial when managing a tenancy.

We have therefore teamed up with several specialist companies to ensure we can offer a whole range of services as part of our management packages, with optional extras also available (charged separately).* Some of these include:

  • Bespoke inventories and check-out reports
  • Insurance brokers providing rent guarantee, legal cover, buildings and contents cover
  • Utility brokers dealing with the changeover of suppliers
  • Legal experts in case things don’t go to plan

Rest assured that whatever is required, we’ve got you covered.

Rent Guarantee & Legal Expense Insurance

Do you lose sleep over the idea of tenants not paying rent or how you’d cope with spiralling legal costs if things go wrong? Then Rent Guarantee and Legal Expense Insurance might be the answer.

We work with an insurance broker who can provide comprehensive cover that will guarantee your rent if your tenant stops paying and deal with all legal expenses authorised or incurred by the insurer for eviction costs and rent recovery.***

What happens if something goes wrong?

Most tenancies run smoothly and without significant problems, aside from the odd late payment and maintenance issue. But letting isn’t risk-free. Sometimes, things go wrong. Your tenant might stop paying, cause damage to your property, or refuse to leave if you choose to take your property back.

While all of the above scenarios are unlikely, it’s important to have experienced people on your side who can offer help and advice if they do. That’s why we always have legal experts experienced in regaining possession of your property on hand.*

Of course, we can also advise you directly on the latest legislation and the best procedure to ensure the best outcome for you and your property. If you would like to learn more about your responsibilities as a landlord, head over to our Guide to Lettings page.

* Additional costs involved. Go to the Landlord Fees page to see our charges.
** We can lodge the security deposit in our scheme at an additional cost as part of our Rent Collect service. This is also included as part of our Fully Managed package. For more information on your legal obligations, head to our Guide to Lettings page in the Landlords section.
*** Subject to terms and conditions. Full details and costs are available upon request.

Get a Free Valuation

If you're contemplating becoming a landlord, the best starting point is to get an idea of the market value of your property.

Book Valuation

Rental Yield Calculator

Use our handy calculator to work out how much yield you could achieve with your property.

Calculator

Get in Touch

If you would like to discuss your property-related enquiries, or have any questions, get in touch with our friendly team.

Get in Touch

Reviews

We had an exceptional experience with WeLocate Estate Agents throughout our recent property sale. From the very beginning, the team's dedication to providing top-notch service was evident, and we..."

Jane Blease

I would like to share unbelievable UNIQUE experience especially nowadays majority if not all Estate Agents being very picky and fussy by taking advantage of high demand of tenants looking for a..."

Faizal Mohmed

The best estate agents I've ever used. They dealt with so many aspects of my sale and beyond what other estate agents fail to do. Especially Kate and of course Pauline have gone out of their way to..."

Jacquu Lee

I've used WeLocate twice now when moving house to sort out my mortgage. Steve is absolutely wonderful. He's very friendly and supportive going above and beyond to help with any issues or concerns we..."

Catherine Anthony