Services

Sellers Guide

When selling your property, it’s important to select an agent who you can trust and who will stay committed to selling your property at the best possible price. The partners and staff at Bennett Holmes have been doing this for years with outstanding results. As members of several professional governing bodies within the industry, Bennett Holmes can ensure that all aspects of their service are first rate.

We can offer our clients a very wide coverage across three local boroughs, coupled with extensive website advertising.

Enhanced Professional Photography - Stand out from the crowd. All of our photographs are digitally enhanced giving you the perfect opportunity to make a stunning first and lasting impression.

Landlords Guide

At Bennett Holmes, our ultimate goal is not only to maximise your rental return but also to ensure that the type of tenant we find is best suited to your property.

As members of several professional governing bodies within the industry, including the Property Ombudsman, NAEA, ARLA and Safe Agent we can ensure that all aspects of our service are first rate.

Bennett Holmes are also members of The National Federation of Property Professionals Client Money Protection Scheme.

We’ll not only find a suitable tenant for your property but also professionally reference and prepare rental agreements with tenants. We can help with arranging gas and electrical certificates, professional inventories and Energy Performance Certificates.

The Propertymark Conduct and Membership Rules can be found here : https://www.propertymark.co.uk/working-in-the-industry/member-requirements

View our Client Money Protection Certificate

Property Management

Once a suitable tenant has been found for your property, Bennett Holmes would be happy to manage the tenancy on your behalf.

This includes everything from the signing of the tenancy agreement to arranging the inventory check out of the tenant on the eventual leaving date, however long that may be.

The management service also includes registering the deposit with the Deposit Protection Service, notifying utilities of the tenants occupation, six monthly inspections, dealing with all queries from the tenant during the tenancy and organising quotes for works required, arranging for authorised works to be carried out, dealing with end of tenancy deposit negotiations, serving section 21 notices where required and notifying utilities of the tenants vacating.

Landlord information on fees and services

We pride ourselves on transparency and do not have several additional charges as many agents do. Below is the list of all of our fees and what each service includes.

Landlord Fees

Under The Tenant Fee Act 2019 as from 1st June 2019 landlord’s and agents are banned from charging tenants the following:

• Admin fees
• Charges for referencing and credit checks
• Charges to add a guarantor (if required)
• Inventory check-in or checkout
• Gardening services
• Professional cleaning

Introduction of tenant service:- is charged at 7% + VAT (8.4% inc VAT ) of the total rent payable and includes all marketing, advertising, accompanied viewings where required, professional referencing and preparing tenancy agreements. This fee is collected at the start of the tenancy for the full 6 or 12 months depending on the length of tenancy.

Introduction of tenant including rent collection:- is charged at an additional 2% + VAT (2.4% inc VAT) to the introduction of tenant service fee and is payable monthly and collected from the rent received. This service includes everything included in the introduction only service but does not guarantee rent payments.

Full management service:- is charged at an additional 5% + VAT (6% inc VAT) to the introduction of tenant service fee and is payable monthly and collected from the rent received. This service includes everything included in the introduction of tenant service and rent collection service as well as registering the deposit with The Deposit Protection Service, notifying utilities of the tenants occupation, six monthly inspections, dealing with all queries from the tenant during the tenancy and organising quotes for works required, arranging for authorised works to be carried out, dealing with end of tenancy deposit negotiations, serving section 21 notices where required and notifying utilities of the tenants vacating.

Extensions and renewals:- In the event that both parties agree to extend the original tenancy after the first twelve months the fee for the introduction of tenant service receives a 50% discount and therefore is charged at 3.5% + VAT (4.2% inc VAT) and includes preparation of the extension paperwork and arranging all parties to sign.

Rent Guarantee policies:- If Bennett Holmes are managing the property on behalf of a landlord then subject to satisfactory referencing, rent guarantee policies are available. Due to Covid the policy that is currently available is a 12 month policy with nil excess which offers up to £100,000 in legal cover as well as up to 12 months rent cover or £15,000 whichever is the lesser amount. The cost of this policy is £349 and is subject to terms and conditions of the Insurance Company providing the policy.

If the landlord is managing the property and therefore collecting the rent then these prices may change and the landlord would be required to contact the insurance company direct to obtain a personal quote.

Additional charges:-

To arrange a Gas Safety Certificate if required is charged at £60
To arrange an Energy Performance Certificate is charged at £80
Professional referencing by third party is charged at £30 Plus VAT per tenant. (£36 including VAT)

Professional Inventories:- Bennett Holmes use a professional inventory company and prices vary depending on the size of the property and whether it is offered furnished or unfurnished. The landlord is required to pay for both check in and checkout reports. Please contact us to obtain the relevant charge for your property.

Professional Cleaning:- Bennett Holmes if requested can arrange pre tenancy and end of tenancy cleans with a professional cleaning company and again prices will vary. Please contact us should you wish to arrange for a quotation.

Court appearances:- In the event that Bennett Holmes are required to attend court as a witness this will be charged at £500 inc VAT per day or any part thereof.

To arrange a Gas Safety Certificate if required is charged at £60 for non manged properties an admin fee of £25 + VAT (£30 inc VAT) is applied.

For non managed properties we can lodge the deposit with the DPS Custodial Scheme £50 + VAT (£60 inc VAT)

For non managed properties should we be involved in dispute at the end of the tenancy £150 + VAT (£180 inc VAT)

Appointment Alerts

All of our viewing appointments, whether tenants or buyers, are confirmed by telephone, email and SMS text messaging to ensure that we achieve a high attendance record. We even send viewers a reminder ensuring that more people actually view your property, vastly improving the chances of a sale or a let. Accompanied viewings and regular feedback from viewings are provided for all our clients.

Your Own Marketing Log-in Access

If you are selling with Bennett Holmes you’ll have access to your very own exclusive log-in codes allowing immediate access to a host of ‘live’ data. This includes details of viewings, viewing feedback, offers, marketing and website statistics including property performance.

Contact your local office for a free market appraisal and we will arrange for an experienced partner or manager to meet with you to discuss our services in more depth and guide you through the process of selling your property.

Mortgages

For many, buying a house can be an exciting, but also daunting, experience. Having an experienced financial adviser to help you through the process can save you stress, time and money.

Bennett Holmes has teamed up with Paul Hodge from Pennymatters Limited to provide our clients with access to whole of market, independent mortgage advice.

Paul has a wealth of experience in the mortgage market and is on hand to ensure you receive the best advice in an every changing market place. Paul will take time to understand your own personal circumstances and from here can research the market to identify the right mortgage for you.

Be sure to obtain independent advice when making one of the biggest financial commitments in your life.

For more information on the services Paul can offer click HERE. Alternatively contact Paul on 07958 613698 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Some mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Advice fee structure available on request. First appointment at our cost. Pennymatters Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Pennymatters Limited is registered as a Limited Company in England and Wales No. 7331832.