Letting Property In Glasgow

GPS Glasgow was founded by landlords for landlords. With a keen interest in property and a deep understanding of the needs of landlords, we believe that we offer a letting and management service which exceeds all others.

We are committed to providing a high standard of service and management to our landlords, tenants and properties alike. This is the simple, but fundamental key to a successful let from beginning to end and is what we incorporate into our daily management service. Our mission is to create happy landlords, happy tenants and happy homes, and this philosophy is in the heart of every member of our team.

What makes our landlords, happy landlords?

No upfront advertising costs
Transparent fee structure (no hidden costs)
Fully vetted tenants with concise written report detailing suitability for tenancy
Rental guarantee (optional)
Written inventory of property condition and furnishings with embedded photos
Minimising vacant periods
Maximising rental and advising what, if any, changes could be made to increase the rental achievable.
Preparing and serving all Notices and Lease Agreements to the tenants on your behalf in accordance with current legislation to protect your legal interests
Collecting a security deposit in excess of 1 month’s rental
Periodic property condition inspections with photographs
Keeping expenditure and maintenance costs reasonable
Supplying tenants with a 24 hour emergency notice. so that any maintenance issues which require urgent attention can be dealt with as promptly as possible
As voluntary LAS Members we adhere to the highest standards in the industry
We abide by Letting Agent Code Of Practice https://beta.gov.scot/publications/letting-agent-code-practice.
Client Money Protection Bonding Scheme
Experienced staff, many of whom hold/are working towards industry qualification
Unique work ethic of the GPS Glasgow team

Our complete management and letting service

Aims to offer a stress-free management service to our landlords and we are proud to offer a full management service with no hidden charges.

Carry out a free, no-obligation property appraisal

We will advise on current rental value and will recommend the standard of presentation required to attract a suitable, quality tenant. We will advise you of current legislation which both landlords and their properties have to conform to. We are sure you will have many questions to ensure that your property is in safe hands and we are happy to discuss any queries you may have.

Market your property to potential tenants

We will do this by advertising on gpsglasgow.co.uk, rightmove.co.uk, citylets.co.uk, findaproperty.com and S1homes.com and many other property portals, a full colour window display in our branch, contacting suitable tenants on our existing database and erecting a ‘To Let’ board or poster at the property to attract local interest, if required. This is backed up by our full accompanied viewing service.

Fully vet potential tenants

Beginning verbally at the viewing stage followed by asking the tenant to complete an application form and provide proof of address and photographic identification, the information supplied is verified with a credit check and obtaining references from employer/previous landlord and/or a character reference. Credit checks will also be carried out on guarantors if applicable.

Take a full inventory of the property condition and furnishings

Prior to commencement of the Let. The tenant will sign and accept the inventory as a full and true inventory of the property and this document will be used to assess dilapidations on the date of vacation.

Prepare the tenancy agreement

(Together with Repairing Standards Letter and relevant notices in accordance with Housing Acts, if applicable) in accordance with current Legislation, to protect your legal interests. We will sign all documents on your behalf as Agent of the Landlord. The tenancy will be PRT (private rental tenancy) which is open ended it will have start date but not end date . The PRT tenancy agreement details the areas of responsibility between you, your tenant and your agent,and mandatory and discretionary details how to end tenancy basically confirming to all parties who is liable for what in connection with theproperty. It also clarifies what can or cannot be done to the property, who is liable for repairs or damages, maintenance and utility type charges.

Collect a security deposit

In excess of 1 month’s rental which will be held in a separate Client deposit account to act as a dilapidation bond, therefore, is not returned until the inventory has been fully checked, any damages assessed and proof of payment for final service accounts has been received (or a forwarding address for the final bill has been provided).

Remit rent monthly

Accompanied by a monthly statement of account. Rent is due on the 1st of every month by standing order. We use a computerised property management software system to monitor, control and remit rent to our landlords’ bank accounts with a monthly statement detailing income and expenditure by email or post. We aim to remit rent within 5 working days of the rent clearing our bank account. Should the tenant fall into arrears, as part of our service we will chase rent arrears up to one month using a combination of written, text and email reminders, phone calls and a property visit if required. We will liaise with your insurance provider should rent guarantee insurance be in place alternatively, upon your instruction, we will liaise with a Recovery Agency in order to recover any amounts due to you (such Agencies normally charge a flat rate of approximately £10 to handle the case and take a percentage of any rent recovered).

Carry out a mid tenancy property inspections

To ensure that the tenants are fulfilling their obligations as set out in the lease agreement and that the condition of the property is being maintained. We will contact you upon completing the inspection should any matters require your attention.

Take care of all maintenance issues on your behalf

We will deal with all matters of general and emergency maintenance using either our trade contractors or your own preferred contractors. This will be carried out in accordance to your pre-let instructions in relation to pre-authorised repair limits, your preferred contractors and any warranty and service contracts in place for appliances in the property. We also offer a 24hour property maintenance service in cases of emergency so that any matters requiring urgent attention in your property may be dealt with as soon as possible.

Liaise with landlord and tenant with regards to tenancies ending

Organise re-advertising of property

Should the tenant confirm that they are vacating the property and you are happy for us to re-let the property we will advertise the property and commence viewings 1 month before the tenancy is due to end. As a condition of the lease agreement, the tenant must allow access to the property for viewings in the final month, this allows us to maximise the chance of securing a tenant and minimising vacant periods between lets.

Carry out a final condition inspection at the end of the tenancy

To assess dilapidations, in line with the original signed inventory. Outwith general wear & tear, your tenant is responsible for relevant dilapidations where applicable. We will advise the local council and utilities of the tenant’s vacation date.

Offer friendly and professional advice and guidelines

To both tenant and landlord throughout and between each tenancy.

GPS Glasgow are delighted to offer our landlords a bespoke range of insurance services tailored specifically for Landlords via Let Alliance.

The Let Alliance policy comes with som fantastic cover benefits & options, including NIL EXCESS and Malicious Damage cover.

Some of the key benefits of the policy are:

Up to £2million sum insured available
Accidental Damage included as standard for buildings – no additional charge!.
Up to 90 days unoccupancy
Legal Liability Cover up to £5million
Up to 20% Loss of Rent
Trace and Access up to £5,000
Malicious Damage by Tenant extension available
Comprehensive contents cover up to £50,000 sum insured
Replacement locks
Variable excess discounts available
Pay monthly policies
Underwritten by AGEAS (formerly Fortis)

Not only this but Let Alliance also provide a Buildings Only cover option as well as Emergency Assistance (also with NIL EXCESS).

Simply click on the Let Alliance logo below and you will be automatically directed to their website allowing you to obtain a quote and apply within minutes. There are no paper application forms and you will receive confirmation directly from Let Alliance of your new insurance policy.

If you have any queries please contact our office and we will be happy to help.

Legal and safety implications to consider when preparing to let your property.

Should you wish to discuss this further please contact us and we will be happy to arrange for an agent to meet you at the property for an in depth property appraisal.

Private Landlord Registration

In accordance with the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004), all private landlords letting properties in Scotland must have applied for registration in the register of landlords with their local authority. You must prove to be a ‘fit and proper landlord’ in order for your application to be successful. Further information can be requested from our office or can be found online at

LANDLORD REGISTRATION SCOTLAND

Repairing Standards

Chapter 4 of Part 1 of the Housing (Scotland Act) 2006 will apply to the tenancy between landlord and tenant. The landlord must ensure that the House meets the Repairing Standard at the start of, and at all times during, the tenancy.

In order for a house to meet the Repairing Standard, it must meet the following conditions:

the house is wind and water tight and reasonably fit for human habitation
the structure and exterior of the house (including drains, gutters and external pipes) are in reasonable repair and proper working
the installations in the house for the supply of water, gas and electricity and for sanitation, space heating and heating water are in reasonable repair and proper working order
any fixtures, fittings and appliances provided under the tenancy are in reasonable repair and proper working order
any furnishings provided under the tenancy are capable of being used safely for the purpose for which they are designed
there is satisfactory provision of smoke alarms.

Important Safety Regulations

It is a legal requirement that furniture and appliances provided by the landlord in a let property comply with the following safety regulations:

Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 (Amended 1996)

All gas appliances and installations in tenanted premises must be checked and certified as safe at intervals of not more than 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A valid safety certificate must be issued, a copy of which should be displayed in the property. Records must be kept of the dates of inspections, defects identified, and of any remedial action taken.

Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994
Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994
The Fire & Furnishings (Safety) Regulations 1988 (Amended 1989 & 1993

Specified items supplied in the course of letting property must meet minimum fire resistant standards. The regulations apply to all upholstered furniture and furnishings including beds, headboards and mattresses, sofa-beds, pillows etc… They do not apply to antique furniture or furniture made before 1950, bed clothes, loose covers for mattresses, pillowcases, curtains, carpets or sleeping bags. Most items which comply will have a suitable permanent label attached, however if you are in any doubt please check with the manufacturer.

The Energy Performance of Building (Scotland) Regulations 2008

In order to comply with this legislation, any residential property will require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in place at the point of the first letting of the property after the 4th January 2009. This must be made available to prospective tenants from the date the property is marketed for letting.

Smoke Alarms

In accordance with the Repairing Standards, all properties should have a satisfactory provision of smoke alarms. Depending on the size and layout of the property, there should normally one smoke alarm on each floor and 1 smoke alarm in living area a heat detector in kitchen and carbon monoxide detector near each room where gas appliances are fitted. All alarms installed must be hard wired and mains powered and interlinked (if one alarm is activated then the all go off). We are happy to inspect the property for you and arrange for the necessary safety checks to be carried out to ensure your property is safety compliant and in a condition to let.

Houses Of Multiple Occupancy (HMO’s)

There is legislation relating to properties occupied by 3 or more unrelated persons which requires that the property have an HMO Licence granted by the local authority before it may be let. In order for the property to be granted an HMO Licence it will have to meet further safety requirements to those detailed above. We will provide advice on the implications of these regulations for your property, if it is your intention to let it on such a basis.

Mortgage

Should your property be the subject of a mortgage agreement, you should obtain permission for letting from the mortgage lender. They may require additional clauses in the tenancy agreement of which you must inform us. Should they require a copy of our lease agreement, this can be provided upon request.

Insurance

You should ensure that you are suitably covered for letting under both your buildings and contents insurance. Please ensure that your Insurance Company is aware that you are letting your property, you may also be required to inform them of tenancy status and vacant periods. Failure to inform your insurers may invalidate your policies. We offer a comprehensive range of Landlord Insurance policies and details are available upon request from our office.

Tax

If you are resident in the UK, it is entirely your responsibility to inform the Inland Revenue of rental income received, and to pay any tax due. However, should you be resident outside the UK, unless an exemption certificate is held, we as landlord’s agents are obliged to retain and forward to the Inland Revenue on a quarterly basis, an amount equal to the basic rate of income tax from rental received, less certain expenses. An application form for exemption from such deductions is available from our office, and further information may be obtained from the Inland Revenue.

Leaseholds

If you are a leaseholder, you should check the terms of your lease, and obtain the necessary written consent before letting.

Sub-letting

If you are a tenant yourself, you will require your landlord’s consent.

Bills and regular outgoings

We recommend that you arrange for regular outgoings e.g. mortgage, service charges, maintenance contracts etc. to be paid by standing order or direct debit.

Council tax

Council tax is the responsibility of the occupier. You should inform your local collection office that you are leaving the property and we will supply the Council with the new tenancy details. During vacant periods the charge reverts to the owner however, discounts can apply if the property is unoccupied but furnished, and exemptions can apply when the property is unoccupied and unfurnished.

Mail

Please ensure that a mail forwarding service is in place throughout the rental period.

Furnishings and Decoration

Should you require further information or guidance please contact us and we will be happy to arrange a free, no-obligation property appraisal.

Appliances

All appliances left in the property for the tenants use should be certified as safe (elec and gas appliances) and in a functional condition. Where possible, please leave user manuals for appliances and the central heating and hot water system in the property. Landlords must ensure that all appliances supplied are maintained for the duration of the tenancy.

(Please ensure that you have provided our office with details of any service contracts and guarantees you have in place for your appliances as all repairs and maintenance are at the landlord’s expense unless misuse can be established.)

Decorations

Interior decorations should be in good condition. It is preferable to avoid personal taste and to decorate using plain, light and neutral colours.

Furnishing

We are happy to provide guidance on how to best furnish the property to attract the right tenant and can advise on safety implications. All items offered in the tenancy should preferably be in the property during viewings.

Personal items, ornaments etc.

We recommend that personal possessions, ornaments, pictures, books etc. be removed from the property. Although we collect and retain a holding deposit to cover any damage caused by tenants, this does not compensate for damage to items of sentimental value. 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. As per the terms and conditions of the lease agreement, tenants are required to maintain the gardens to a reasonable standard, provided they are left the necessary tools.

Cleaning

At the commencement of a tenancy the property must be in a thoroughly clean condition. The tenant is responsible for ensuring that the property is left in a similar condition at the end of each tenancy. Where they fail to do so, we will arrange for the property to be cleaned at their expense.