Hi Everyone, I hope that February 2024 was good for you and you are now gearing up for a busy March leading up to the Easter break. Here at Smart Letting Solutions, we had a very busy February assisting many Agents and Landlords with their rental properties including services such as end of tenancy cleans, property redecoration and maintenance, Energy Performance Certificates and also working with an Agent that instructed us to carry out an audit of their property files to ensure that they are compliant with current legislation.
We are now finding that Agents across South Wales are using Smart Lettings to compliment their own in house services, and to use us as a ‘one stop shop’ in order to get a rental property ready for letting out. Instructions this month have been to complete a number of end of tenancy cleans, whilst also carrying out some essential maintenance and improvements to rental properties to keep them in tip top condition.
We recognise that it is vital to keep properties looking their best in order to protect the Landlords investment, and to ensure Contract Holders are given quality accommodation at the start of their occupation of a property – the better condition they receive the property, the more likely they are to return it in similar condition at the end of their occupation.
ARLA Propertymark Conference
We attended the ARLA Propertymark Conference at the Celtic Manor in February, where there were presentations by both Rent Smart Wales and the Welsh Government on current plans for the PRS and updates on the legislation that has been introduced over the past 12 months or so. Events like this are so important to those of us involved in the PRS as they bring people together from all across Wales, all of whom want to be kept informed of developments in the rental sector so that they can make plans for their own businesses going forward in 2024. Rent Smart Wales advised that the Agent Audit Program is still ongoing, and that they hope all Agents will have been audited at least once by the end of 2024 – you have all been warned!
We are also still seeing a high volume of EPC renewals for rental properties with Contract Holders already in occupation. RSW regard it as good practice to always have a valid EPC in place during a tenancy and it appears that most Agents concur with that view.
Looking ahead into March, we expect to see more of the same coming our way with plenty of end of tenancy checkouts, cleaning and maintenance ready for the next occupation.
Hope you all have a great March and Happy Easter!
Best regards,
Lance.