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Tenant Info

We let and manage furnished and unfurnished apartments and houses throughout Co. Down and Co. Antrim. We endeavor to provide a first class service to our tenants during the process of finding a property and maintain this level of service and support throughout the tenancy.

We offer the following:

• We ensure that all properties are legally maintained within current legislation and are fully compliant within all safety regulations.
• Registered member of MyDepositsNi, an approved tenancy deposit protection scheme
• Dedicated property manager throughout your tenancy
• Maintenance issues are dealt with promptly and efficiently

Finding a property

The first step is to contact us to provide brief details about yourself and about the accommodation you require. We then search our database for suitable properties for you to view. If not urgent, we log your details so that we can contact you as suitable properties become available. It is wise to start looking about a month before you wish to move as often properties are viewed and reserved quickly. Our tenancies are granted for a minimum term of 6 months.

Viewings

Viewings will be arranged at times to suit you including evenings and weekends. You will invariably be accompanied by a member of staff who can give advice and answer any questions you may have.

Reserving the Property

Once you have decided on a property, you will need to reserve it by paying a ‘holding deposit’, usually equivalent to two week’s rent. Assuming that the tenancy goes ahead, this will be deducted from the monies due before you move in. If the landlord declines to grant the tenancy, it will be refunded. However the deposit will be forfeited if you decide not to proceed for any reason, or if you fail to provide complete and accurate information in your application.

References

As a minimum we will require satisfactory references from your employer (or college), and a previous or current landlord. We may also require a personal reference, and sometimes a guarantor. In addition a credit check will be undertaken. We may use the services of an independent referencing company to obtain and evaluate these references.

Rents

Rents are normally quoted per calendar month and payable monthly in advance. The tenant is usually also responsible for; Water Rates, Gas, Electricity and Telephone costs. All rents are payable by bank standing order to our company bank account.

Deposit

A security deposit of a minimum of one month’s rental must be paid and will be secured with Mydepositsni, an approved tenancy deposit protection scheme. The deposit is held to cover damage, breakages and any other liabilities under the terms of your tenancy agreement.

Fees

We charge a non-refundable fee of £40 per applicant to cover administration and referencing.[/tab]

[tab title=”Landlords Info”] 

Landlords Info

If you currently own or intend to purchase residential property for rental in Co. Down or Co. Antrim, you should consider engaging our residential lettings and property management service.

Insurance

You should ensure that you are suitably covered for letting under both your buildings and contents insurance. Failure to inform your insurers may invalidate your policies. We can advise on Landlord’s Legal Protection, and Landlord’s Contents insurance if required.

Important Safety Regulations

The following safety requirements are the responsibility of the owner (the landlord), and where we are to manage the property, they are also ours as agents. Therefore to protect all interests we ensure full compliance with the appropriate regulations, at the owner’s expense.

The General Product Safety Regulations

…..1994 specify that any product supplied in the course of a commercial activity must be safe. In the case of letting, this would include both the structure of the building and its contents. Recommended action is to check for obvious danger signs – leaning walls, broken glass, sharp edges etc., and also to leave operating manuals or other written instructions about high risk items, such as hot surfaces, electric lawnmowers, etc. for the tenant.

Preparing the Property for Letting

We have found from experience that a good relationship with tenants is the key to a smooth-running tenancy. Our policy of offering a service of quality and care therefore extends to our tenant applicants too, and we are pleased to recommend properties to rent which conform to certain minimum standards. Quality properties attract quality tenants.

General Condition

Electrical, gas, plumbing, waste, central heating and hot water systems must be safe, sound and in good working order. Repairs and maintenance are at the landlord’s expense unless misuse can be established.

Appliances

Similarly, appliances such as washing machine, fridge freezer, cooker, dishwasher etc. should be in usable condition. Repairs and maintenance may be at the landlord’s expense.

Decorations

Interior decorations should be in good condition, and preferably plain, light and neutral.

Furnishings

It is recommended that you leave only minimum furnishings and these should be of reasonable quality. It is preferable that items to be left are in the property during viewings. If you are letting unfurnished, we recommend that the property contains carpets, curtains, a cooker, a fridge and a washing machine..

Personal items, ornaments etc.

Personal possessions, ornaments, pictures, books etc. should be removed from the premises, especially those of real or sentimental value. Some items may be boxed, sealed and stored in the loft at the owner’s risk. All cupboards and shelf space should be left clear for the tenant’s own use.

Gardens

Gardens should be left neat, tidy and rubbish-free, with any lawns cut. Tenants are required to maintain the gardens to a reasonable standard, provided they are left the necessary tools. However, few tenants are experienced gardeners, and if you value your garden, or if it is particularly large, you may wish us to arrange maintenance visits by our regular gardener.

Cleaning

At the commencement of a tenancy the property must be in a thoroughly clean condition, and at the end of each tenancy it is the tenant’s responsibility to leave the property in similar condition. Where they fail to do so, cleaning should be arranged at their expense.

Mail forwarding

We recommend that you make use of the Post Office redirection service. Application forms are available at their counters, and the cost is minimal. It is not the tenant’s responsibility to forward mail.

Information for the tenant

It is helpful if you leave information for the tenant on operating the central heating and hot water system, washing machine and alarm system, and the day refuse is collected etc.

Keys

You should provide one set of keys for each tenant. Where we are managing we will arrange to have duplicates cut as required.[/tab][/tabs]

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At Centurion Property in Bangor we help landlords let their property, whether that’s helping them understand lettings legislation, finding them a tenant or managing their property.Our out of hours emergency team ensures that we are contactable 24 hours, 365 days a year.