Landlords Protection

CMP: Client Money Protection.
As we are members of the CMP, our landlords have the assurance that their money is safeguarded by the CMP Scheme.
In the event of the letting agency facing administration or misappropriate funds, the landlord can claim back lost money.

TLP: The letting Partnership
They provide us with a client accounting ancillary service specifically for the lettings industry.
They monitor all transactions in and out of the client account, ensuring that the landlord funds are securely held and protected.

Propertymark: (ARLA)
Recognised as the premier membership body for property agents in the UK.
Aims to support UK letting agents to foster a more trusted and successful property industry.
Provides specialist and regulated property qualifications, and Eps is a full member, which adds an extra layer of credibility.

We are also members of the below schemes. These are to help protect your property investments.

TDS – The Deposit Protection Scheme
www.tenancydepositscheme.com

TPO – The Property Ombudsman
www.tpos.co.uk

TSI – Trading Standards Institute
www.tradingstandards.uk

EPS Properties will be what’s known as the ‘Controller’ of the personal data you provide to us.

We only collect basic personal data about you which does not include any special types of information or location-based information. This does however include name, address, email, phone number.

Why we need your data We need to know your basic personal data to provide you with on-going organisational updates and your required services in line with this overall contract.

We will not collect any personal data from you we do not need to provide and oversee this service to you. What we do with your data All the personal data we process is processed by our staff in the UK however for the purposes of IT hosting and maintenance this information is located on servers within the European Union.

No 3rd parties have access to your personal data unless the law allows them to do so.

We have a Data Protection regime in place to oversee the effective and secure processing of your personal data. This also includes Cyber Security. How long we keep your data We are required under UK tax law to keep your basic personal data (name, address, contact details) for a minimum of 6 years after which time it will be destroyed.

Your information we use for contacting you / marketing purposes will be kept with us until you notify us that you no longer wish to receive this information. What we would also like to do with your data We would however like to use your name, address and email address to inform you of our ongoing services and similar products. This information is not shared with third purposes, and you can unsubscribe at any time via email notification.

What are your rights If at any point you believe the information we process on you is incorrect you can request to see this information and have it corrected or deleted. If you wish to raise a complaint on how we have handled your personal data, you can contact us to have If at any point you believe the information we process on you is incorrect you can request to see this information and have it corrected or deleted. If you wish to raise a complaint on how we have handled your personal data, you can contact us to have the matter investigated, please use email susan@eps.properties

If you are not satisfied with our response or believe we are processing your personal data not in accordance with the law, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office https://ico.org.uk/

What is it?
A simple and effective protection for your contents.
A way to maintain rental income and minimise unnecessary costs.

What does it cover?
Accidental damage – comprehensive cover for accidental damage to contents.
Loss of Rent – up to 100% of the contents sum insured
Contents Cover Limit – Varying sums insured from £10,000 to £30,000
£300 excess all claims
Public Liability – up to £2 million in cover
Perils Covered – includes escape of water and/or oil, fire, lightning, earthquake, explosion damage, Storm of flood damage, subsidence, and malicious damage as defined. Subject to terms and conditions.

What happens if something goes wrong?
Report your claim to us by sending an email to susan@eps.properties. Leave this with us and we will facilitate with our insurer to deal with your incident, as quickly as possible.

EPS Properties will be named on the contract for your landlord’s contents, loss of rent and public liability. EPS Properties will then arrange an insurance policy to protect that liability, allowing you as the landlord piece of mind that your investment is protected.

In fact, we are no longer allowed to call them inspections, we should call them Property Visits.

Property Visits
Approximately every quarter our team conducts a Property Visit. Legally we are bound to give the tenant 24-hour notice in advance. If for any reason the tenant refuses us entry, we will inform you and await further instructions. During these visits, we are there to ensure that the tenants are compliant with the T&Cs of the Tenancy Agreement and are looking after the property in a tenant-like manner.

(Behaving in a tenant-like manner includes) Changing light bulbs and fuses; Keeping both the       interior and exterior clean (including windows); Bleeding radiators; Changing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; General Garden maintenance, such as mowing the lawn and sweeping up leaves; Keeping windows free from condensation; and ensuring the property is kept free from pests.

Maintenance issues.
If it turns out the tenants cause the issue, we will write to them to rectify it within a reasonable timeframe.  If there is anything serious that needs attention, we will inform you promptly.

Prior to end of tenancy inspection /visit
This report is solely to help a smooth transition during the end of a tenancy.
Conducting an inspection about 10 days before the tenant’s actual check-out date, is helpful and useful to both parties.By identifying any concerns with the property in advance, gives the tenants a chance to address them before their departure. This proactive system can help prevent last minute surprises and promote a positive experience for both landlords and tenants.

Comprehensive Background Checks:
As well as verifying income and general affordability, this includes checking credit history, rental history and right to rent. A history of missed payments, an unpaid IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) or payments to debt collection agencies can all be potential causes for concern.

By identifying red flags early on, EPS letting agent will help landlords void a problematic tenant.

EPS Properties leverage their expertise to benefit both landlords and tenants.  Identifying quality tenants—those who pay rent promptly and treat the property with respect—is crucial for maintaining a harmonious landlord-tenant relationship. By doing so, we not only reduce disputes but also contribute to lower turnover rates, which is good news for everyone involved.

End of Tenancy Process
As we approach the end of the tenancy, we would like to outline the steps that we take to ensure a smooth transaction:

• Check – out Date Confirmation. We email confirmation of all details.
• Book a full Check-out inventory report:
• The inventory clerk will conduct a detailed check-out report to document the property’s condition upon the tenant’s departure, which includes photo images.
• The inventory clerk will also take meter readings for gas, water and electricity, provided the meters are accessible.
• The Property is left safe, as the inventory clerk will ensure that all doors and windows are securely locked.
• The keys are returned to us directly.

Deposit Return
We aim to return the deposit within 14 working days.  However, please note that this timeframe may extend if there is outstanding work to be addressed.

Dispute/Cleaning
Cleaning disputes are the most common cause for tenancy deposit disagreements. To avoid disputes, we recommend that the tenants employ a professional cleaning service, but we cannot enforce this upon them.

Dispute Resolution
In the event of a dispute, we will represent your interests through the TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme) dispute service. The resolution time can vary from weeks to months, depending on the TDS.  Their decision is final, and we cannot appeal.

Preparation for next Tenancy – Pre-Tenancy inspection
Our focus now shifts to preparing the property for the next tenant.  A Pre-Tenancy visit is carried out. The primary goal of this visit is to ensure that the property is ready for the new tenant to move in. By conducting this inspection before the new tenancy begins, we can identify any issues or necessary repairs early on.  Remember, a well-prepared property not only benefits the tenant but also contributes to the time during the tenancy period.