Sawyer & Co Lettings Brochure 2018

BEST SMALL LETTINGS AGENCY IN THE UK 2018 AWARD WINNERS

The Brighton & Hove property experts Sawyer & Co are market leaders in the city with a strong reputation for integrity and local knowledge.

Standing out from the crowd with a clear and constant focus on providing the highest levels of customer experience, our aim is clear - to be better than our competitors in every way.

97%

of our tenants pay their rent on time* We pride ourselves on doing things differently. We allocate property managers their own portfolios to encourage greater continuity for both landlords and tenants, ensuring a good level of communication and correspondence at all times.

Our high levels of service have been recognised at both a local and national level. Our Senior Lettings Specialist Kerry-Anne Holland was runner-up for the prestigious National Lettings Negotiator of the Year award at The Times Awards, while as a company we’re proud to be the Best Small Lettings Agency in the UK 2018 Award Winners.

Our in-house maintenance, project management and inventory services offer low cost efficient options to our landlords, making letting their property as stressfree as possible and often without the need to find and deal with external contractors. Any additional contractors we do use are all tried and tested to meet the highest standards and willing to go the extra mile on our behalf.

* Correct at the time of writing.

Holding Ourselves To The Highest Standards We choose to be answerable to a variety of bodies including The Property Ombudsman, ARLA, NAEA, The Guild of Professional Estate Agents, TDS and the Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association (BHEAA).

We pride ourselves on doing things differently Whether you’re an investment landlord or a private individual letting your home for the first time, letting a property is a serious business.

Letting residential property demands careful planning and you need a professional agent who will look after your interests, and at the same time make your status as a landlord as stress-free as possible.

History suggests that in the UK, over a period of time residential property is one of the safest and best performing investments, not only providing an excellent income but also for many, a significant capital gain in the process.

The make-up of the rental sector has changed significantly in recent years in terms of the standard of accommodation and the different types of landlords. We have set the pace in the local market by investing in staff and technology to ensure that our service standards are able to exceed our clients’ expectations.

At Sawyer & Co, we use our knowledge and expertise to ensure that our services meet your needs and give you peace of mind.

It pays to talk to the right people, you’re in safe hands with us Experts in sales, lettings and property management. We make it a point of principle to only recruit people with the right attitudes and values.

Whether it’s AllAgents, Facebook or Google, our customer satisfaction reviews give a clear indication that we deliver on our promises.

98% of our clients would recommend us

Every agent will tell you that they are the best in your area.

However, to be completely confident you have chosen an exceptional agent you need to discover what their previous customers and clients think of them.

Over 700 people have recommended us on allAgents. co.uk, here are just some of the reviews we’ve received: “We have exclusively dealt with Emma during our tenancy and she has been absolutely amazing. Every maintenance problem was resolved quickly, and not only that she has been an absolute delight to deal with over the last year.

Cannot thank her enough for all of her work.”

“Always willing to help, answered questions quickly and problems got sorted very promptly. A breath of fresh air compared to other estate agents. Would highly recommend.”

Effective marketing

We understand that no two homes are ever the same. That’s why we will produce a high quality brochure featuring professional photography and well written bespoke descriptions that bring your property to life.

By taking the time to get to know you and your property we can discover its unique value and character, helping us to highlight its individual qualities to find the perfect tenant and helping you to achieve the maximum rental price.

Choosing Sawyer & Co to let your property means that you’ll automatically receive superb professional photography, bespoke written descriptions, and accurate floorplans as standard.

Our exclusive in-house photographers have worked with a host of internationally acclaimed names in the industry and been exhibited at the Brighton festival, while our copywriter has worked on media campaigns for a multitude of international and UK household name companies.

We undertake pro-active marketing campaigns on social media and to both local and national press.

At the 2018 and 2016 Guild of Professional Estate Agent Awards we were commended for our “‘fantastic use of social media” and “consistently high levels of customer service, outstanding expertise and use of unique marketing tools”.

Our state-of-the-art 3D interactive tours and “dolls house” images give tenants the chance to take a closer look at your property from the comfort of their own home.

Our online presence includes full proactive social media integration and covers all the major property sites such as RightMove and OnTheMarket. We also employ targeted personal and instant marketing by text message and email.

Your property is a major investment and it is important that you are aware of your responsibilities as a landlord as well as knowing the best way to optimise your investment.

This guide is designed to offer comprehensive information about all aspects of letting a property whilst, at the same time, giving you an insight into the level of care we put into our service.

Buy To Let:

One of the Safest Investments Residential property has proven to be an excellent investment. The value of the property has, on average, doubled every ten years over the last fifty years.

Over recent years, changes in both the housing market and social patterns have resulted in an unprecedented and inexorable rise in demand for property within the private sector.

Investing in buy-to-let property is proving to be a prudent decision for many people looking for an alternative to stock markets or savings accounts.

Key to a successful investment are factors such as location and type of property, but it is also important to consider achievable rent levels, tenant demand and expectations, maintenance and potential capital growth.

With so much to consider Sawyer & Co will take the time to assist you from the start, by providing honest and reliable advice on potential investment opportunities.

Happy to accompany and advise you even when you view other agent’s properties, we recognise that this is likely to be your second biggest investment after buying your own home, and whether you are a first-time landlord or an experienced investor you can trust our guidance.

From February 2019 a new selective licensing scheme will be introduced by the council. Expected to affect approximately 27,000 properties, selective licensing enables authorities to licence privately rented accommodation other than HMOs where certain conditions are met. Our award-winning team’s knowledge of local legislation means that they can assist you with this and any enquiries you may have.

Preparing Your Property for Letting MORTGAGES

Where the property to be let is subject to a mortgage, permission must be granted from the lender in writing. It is sometimes appropriate to re-mortgage with a buy-to-let specialist and our mortgage advisors, who can offer an acrossthe-market perspective, will be happy to provide completely impartial advice in this regard.

INSURANCE

It is essential that the property and your contents are adequately insured, both while the property is empty and whilst it is let. Your insurers must be told that the property is to be let since failure to do so may well invalidate cover. We can provide details of competitive insurance specifically for rented property, if required.

SECURITY

Security systems (locks on window lights and even full alarm systems) are often considered essential by prospective tenants, and are taken into consideration by most leading insurance companies when calculating premiums.

DECORATION AND CARPETS

We recommend these should be fresh and neutral in terms of colour and style. Higher quality properties will always attract better quality tenants and there-fore it is vital that a property is well presented to meet the expectations of a quality tenant.

FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED?

One of the first decisions to be made is whether to let your property furnished or unfurnished.

The advantages of letting unfurnished are: • Lower turnover of tenants.

• No wear and tear on your furnishing.

• Lower maintenance and repair costs.

Unfurnished lettings generally include the following: • Carpets or laminate flooring.

• Light fittings.

• Kitchen appliances (known as white goods) which should be in good working order, with instructions and preferably insurance for breakdown.

• Small wall mounted items such as mirrors in the bathroom and cloakroom, toilet roll holders and towel rails.

If you choose to Let your property furnished you need to be aware of the following:

• All soft furnishing including beds, upholstered chairs and sofas etc. must comply with the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations Act 1988. Any furniture manufactured before March 1990 will generally not comply.

• All bed linen, towels and anything of monetary or sentimental value should ideally be removed.

• If an electrical appliance such as a kettle, toaster or washing machine breaks down, it is the landlord’s responsibility to repair or replace it.

DOMESTIC APPLIANCES

These should also be of good quality and condition and subject to regular servicing. It is important that full instructions for use are left on the premises to avoid the need to call in an engineer to demonstrate. Gas and electrical appliances must meet legal safety requirements and oil appliances should be tested regularly.

CLEANING

It is essential that the property is handed over in clean condition. We very strongly recommend that the property be professionally cleaned throughout, including all carpets. This creates a benchmark that will be recorded in the inventory and Schedule of Condition, and will allow us to maintain a high standard through subsequent tenancies. We can provide the names of reputable and economical cleaning contractors.

GARDENS

Gardens should be left in good seasonal order so that the benchmark is set for the tenants, whose responsibility it will be to maintain the same standard. We recommend that relevant tools are provided by the landlord. If the garden is particularly large, or complicated to maintain, it may be appropriate for the landlord to retain responsibility for maintenance, in which event this will be reflected in the rent. We will be happy to help find suitable gardeners, be it for a full maintenance programme, hedge/lawn cutting, pruning or occasional tidy.

Preparing Your Property for Letting SERVICES

(For Full Management Landlords)

We take away the hassle of contacting energy suppliers, local councils and water suppliers by notifying each one with the name of new tenants. Landlords should close their accounts but services should be left connected. Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, tenants must be able to control and regulate heating systems.

COUNCIL TAX

(For Full Management Landlords)

We will notify the local council tax office of each change of occupier and of any void period between tenancies.

KEYS

When the property is let, you must provide at least one full set of keys to each occupant and where the property is managed by us we will require two further full sets of keys for access during tenancy. We will be obliged to charge for key cutting if insufficient keys are supplied at the outset.

TELEPHONE

If a telephone line is installed at the property you should instruct the provider to a temporary stop on the line when you vacate and send you a closing account.

EMPTY PROPERTIES

It is important that you comply with any insurance requirements during vacant periods, especially during the winter months.

Attracting tenants

At Sawyer & Co we fully understand that excellent presentation and maximum exposure of our clients’ properties plays a key role in securing suitable tenants.

As soon as we receive your instructions to proceed our team will start the process of finding a suitable tenant.

From our three high profile high street offices in Kemp Town, Hove and Portslade we can secure tenants from our extensive database.

TECHNOLOGY

Technology plays a vital role in our work and ensures that your property is presented properly online enjoying the maximum possible exposure. In addition to major property portals such as Rightmove, prospective tenants will also be able to see your property on our own fully responsive website, and they can learn more by viewing the brochure, floorplan, EPC, and Google street view, along with information about the local area.

RELOCATION

Tenants come to live in the Brighton & Hove area from all over the country but in particular from London and its suburbs. As members of The Guild of Professional Estate Agents and the Relocation Agent Network we now have connections in over 900 towns and cities across the UK. All of these offices are capable of introducing tenants to your property.

Our associated offices in London’s Park Lane boasts one of the very best locations in Europe attracting clients from all over the world and is in addition to over 100 other associated offices across the Greater London area.

Our association with Cartus, the world’s largest relocation organisation, also provides your property with international coverage generating regular enquiries from tenants relocating to our area and seeking premium corporate and private lets.

Selecting the Right Tenant

Sawyer & Co will discuss your particular requirements in detail to find the most suitable tenant for you.

Different landlords make different stipulations regarding what they will and will not accept. Typically Sawyer & Co will negotiate any special conditions that are required and ensure that those conditions are properly inserted into a tenancy agreement.

REFERENCES AND FINANCIAL CHECKS

We carry out strict checks using a specialist independent referencing company who demand the highest of standards from incoming tenants.

This essential and detailed process gives us an understanding of tenants’ personal and financial circumstances in addition to previous agent/ landlord references.

Setting up the tenancy It is essential to have a comprehensive tenancy agreement and detailed inventory/schedule of condition prior to each tenancy.

We will arrange this on your behalf where required.

THE TENANCY AGREEMENT Sawyer & Co use an approved Tenancy Agreement which has been carefully designed to protect the landlords’ rights to possession, help control the tenants’ activities and comply with standard mortgage lender requirements. Tenancy agreements are usually for an initial 6 months, however shorter or longer term tenancies can be negotiated depending on individual landlords’ circumstances.

The Housing Act specifies different types of tenancy and, whilst there are several, it is almost certain that the tenancy of your property will either be an Assured Shorthold Tenancy or a Contractual Tenancy.

INVENTORY/SCHEDULE OF CONDITION

It is essential to have an inventory/schedule of condition prior to each tenancy. We can arrange this using our own in-house inventory team.

At the end of the tenancy the property is inspected against the inventory and any damages or deterioration to its condition is noted. The tenant is responsible for the cost of rectifying any damage, over and above what is considered to be fair wear and tear caused by them at the property.

Legislation is now weighted heavily in the tenants’ favour.

It is therefore necessary to provide properly prepared and accurate inventories/schedules of condition to protect the landlords’ interests.

THE TENANCY DEPOSIT SCHEME

As part of the Housing Act 2004 the Government has introduced tenancy deposit protection for all Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST) in England and Wales where a deposit is taken. All deposits, paid under AST, now have to be registered with a government approved scheme.

We are members of The Tenancy Deposit Scheme, operated by The Dispute Service, which provides an independent and impartial method of resolving any differences between landlord and tenant. At the end of the tenancy the landlord and tenant should attempt to agree the basis for the repayment of the deposit. If there is a dispute The Dispute Service provides for the case to be dealt with by an Independent Case Examiner.

MORTGAGE LENDER REQUIREMENTS If you have taken a mortgage on the property you are letting, you will need to obtain the consent of your mortgage lender. It is very unusual for them to refuse permission, but most will charge a small administration fee.

In turn, they may require information on the type of tenancy agreement you intend to use along with the length of the tenancy, and they will require certain notices to be served on the tenant. They will also probably require reassurance that a professional agent is being instructed.

RENTAL PAYMENT AND DEPOSIT When the tenant signs the agreement we take the initial rental payment and security deposit. The level of deposit varies but is generally the equivalent of 6 weeks rent. We always ensure that the funds are cleared before the tenant is allowed to move in. At the same time we ask the tenant to provide written evidence from their bank that a standing order has been activated. The deposit will then be held in an approved and protected account.

COUNCIL TAX AND UTILITY BILLS In addition to the rent, tenants are responsible for paying water charges, council tax, gas, electricity and telephone bills.

Setting up the tenancy LANDLORD OBLIGATIONS These are clearly determined in Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenancy Act 1985. The landlord will be responsible for maintaining the structure and the exterior of the property, heating and plumbing installation, and dealing with routine repairs. If the property is leasehold, the landlord will be responsible for paying the service charge and ground rent.

TENANT OBLIGATIONS The tenant has a duty to take proper care of the rent and keep to the terms of the tenancy agreement. If the tenants cause damage to the property they are responsible for the reasonable cost of repair providing it is not deemed fair wear and tear.

BUILDING AND CONTENTS INSURANCE Landlords should ensure that they have adequate buildings and contents insurance cover in place including all fixtures, fittings and white goods (or plumbing and heating installations). Tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents and personal belongings. We will make every effort, but cannot guarantee to ensure that a tenant takes out personal contents insurance. * Please note that standard homeowner insurance policies will not suffice once a tenant is in residence as you are no longer the owner occupier. It is also important to check on cover periods when the property is empty.

We recommend you check your policy thoroughly.

LEASEHOLD PROPERTIES If your property is leasehold, the lease will specify whether or not it is necessary to obtain permission to sub-let from the Freeholder. It is essential to clarify the situation before marketing the property as some lease place restrictions on the type of subletting that will be approved.

Service level options

We provide the following three levels of service full details of which are provided within our Terms & Conditions.

1

TENANT INTRODUCTION

Fee: 3 weeks rent plus VAT subject to a minimum of £750 plus VAT (£900).

This service includes the following: • Production and distribution of promotional materials, to include photographs and a floorplan

• Organising, where appropriate, an initial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), Gas Safety Certificate and other legally required certification* • Provision of a To Let board • Promotion of your property on Rightmove and OnTheMarket, as well as our own website sawyerandco.co.uk • Accompanied viewing service • Completion of comprehensive credit and income checks on prospective tenants, for which we employ a third party specialist • Collection of an appropriate deposit, which is lodged in our client account and protected by the Client Money Protection Scheme • Registration of the deposit with TDS (The Dispute Service) in accordance with current legislation* • Collection of the first month’s rent. We arrange for subsequent payments to be paid directly to you • Production of an appropriate tenancy agreement and associated documentation • Arrange an Inventory & Schedule of Condition (signed by the tenant) for you to use as the basis for comparison when the tenant vacates* *Requires additional fee paid to a 3rd party.

LETTING & RENT COLLECTION Fee: 10% plus VAT (12%)

Our letting and rent collection service includes all the benefits of our tenant introduction service and in addition, Sawyer & Co Property Management will: • Arrange for collection of rent in accordance with the terms of the tenancy agreement • Prepare and submit a regular Statement of Account to the landlord and/or the landlord’s accountant • Transfer the net monies to the landlord • At the end of the tenancy, we will arrange for the inventory to be checked by the inventory clerk and for a schedule of dilapidation (if any) to be prepared.

A copy of this is normally sent to both landlord and tenant for subsequent approval before a tenant’s deposit can be returned • Issuing relevant notices (upon your instructions), including the notice to quit occupancy • Working with your solicitor in the unlikely event that eviction proceedings are necessary or that rent arrears have to be pursued through the court system. We are able to arrange Rent Guarantee and Legal Expenses Insurance to protect you against the eventuality.

2

3

FULL MANAGEMENT SERVICE Fee: 12% plus VAT (14.4%)

In addition to the Letting and Rent Collection Service as detailed above, this includes: • Arranging utility providers with meter readings when available and notifying each one and the council of the transfer of service contracts to the new tenant at the start of each tenancy • 6 monthly visits to the property to ensure the tenant is taking care of the property and when appropriate, providing you with a written report about issues arising from our visit • Arranging Landlord Gas Safety Inspections to be carried out annually during the tenancy, and for a Certificate to be provided • Monitor and, should you and the tenant wish, arrange tenancy renewals for further fixed terms • Arranging an inventory check out at the end of the tenancy and dealing with matters relating to wear and tear before arranging for the release of the tenant’s security deposit.

ADDITIONAL FEES • Energy Performance Certificate from £45 plus VAT (£54) • Gas Safety Certificate from £55 plus VAT (£66) • Inventory and Schedule of Condition from £45 plus VAT (£54) • Extend Rental Agreement £80 plus VAT (£96) (Tenant Intro Service Only) • Remarketing Fee £195 plus VAT (£234) • Extra Property Inspections £50 plus VAT (£60)

Taxation of rental income

Overseas landlords are responsible for obtaining their own exemption certificates and the appropriate forms should be submitted as early as possible as they take several weeks to process.

UK Residential Landlords

If you are a landlord residing in the UK, your net income from your investment property is subject to income tax. The level of tax depends on your other income, if you are already a higher rate taxpayer, tax will be payable at the higher rate.

The normal method of reporting your taxable assets to the Inland Revenue is a Self-Assessment Tax Return Form. We strongly advise that you take independent advice from a tax specialist.

Non-Residential Landlords

The Non-Residential Landlord (NRL) scheme is for taxing the UK rental income of persons whose “usual place of abode” is outside the UK. If you are treated as a “non-resident landlord” you still have to pay UK income tax on rental income from your UK property.

Unless a landlord can provide Sawyer & Co with an Approval form from HMRC, we are obliged to deduct basic rate tax from rent received and to account to the Inland Revenue on a quarterly basis. A landlord who lives abroad for more than 6 months of the year must pay tax on any income they get from renting out property in the UK. Joint owners will be liable to pay tax on their own share of the rental income. If the landlord is a company or trustee the rules about their usual place of abode apply.

Every landlord named on the tenancy agreement when living overseas requires a separate Approval. Sawyer & Co are registered and are fully conversant with the requirements of the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme (NRL). Collected by the NRL scheme, tax can be paid by either the landlord or the tenant.

Landlords managing their own property will need to give their Approval number to their tenant otherwise the tenant will be responsible for deducting the tax and reporting to HMRC.

Landlords have always had a duty of care under common law to ensure that any rented property is kept in a safe condition, and this obligation can even have an impact on whether or not you are able to serve notice on a tenant.

HOUSING HEALTH AND SAFETY RATING SYSTEM (HHSRS)

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System was introduced under the 2004 Housing Act. It is a risk based evaluation tool, designed to identify potential hazards to health and safety from any deficiencies identified in dwellings. Common breaches of this legislation include a lack of extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchens, and trip hazards such as uneven patio slabs and loosely fitted carpets and staircases without handrails.

FIRE AND FURNISHINGS REGULATIONS

Under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, a landlord who is letting a property is responsible for ensuring that the furniture carries the appropriate fire resistance labels. Bedding, carpets and curtains, and furniture manufactured before 1990 may fall outside the regulations.

ELECTRICITY

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 state that all electrical appliances, both fixed and portable, in rented accommodation must be safe. The only sure method of checking this is to have these all tested and labelled periodically by a qualified electrician. In order to comply with current legislation all electrical items should carry CE marking.

GAS SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR LANDLORDS & AGENTS

From 31st October 1994, all gas equipment in rented properties must be serviced and safety checked before a tenancy starts, and then annually by a British Gas or Gas Safe registered plumber. Landlords or their agents are responsible for keeping accurate records of work carried out on all appliances in their control, and confirmed by an official safety certificate. It is a legal requirement that a Gas Safety Certificate is provided to the tenant annually. Failure to prove that a Gas Safety Certificate, along with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), were given to the tenant can affect the ability to serve a Section 21 Notice of eviction.

SMOKE DETECTORS AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS New regulations established in 2015 require landlords to have at least one smoke alarm installed on each floor of their properties. Furthermore, a carbon monoxide alarm must be fitted in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance (e.g. a coal fire or wood burning stove). Landlords must ensure that the alarms are in working order at the start of each tenancy; this applies to all properties, not just new tenancies.

REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER 2005

From October 2006, a detailed fire risk assessment must be carried out to identify any risks or hazards, and any such findings should be eliminated or reduced. This applies to the common parts of blocks of flats and houses of multiple occupation (HMOs).

ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE

From 1st October 2008, all rental properties with a new tenancy in England and Wales are required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The EPC rates the energy efficiency of a property and its environmental impact.

The EPC survey must be completed prior to marketing a property, and a tenant is required to receive a copy of the report before entering into a Tenancy Agreement, along with a copy of the Government produced “How to Rent� leaflet.

Proof of issue is essential. New regulations which came into force in April 2018 mean that all rental properties now require an EPC rating of E or above.

Safety regulations

The following information is intended only as a guide for landlords and does not constitute a detailed and complete interpretation of the relevant regulations. However, a failure to comply with the following safety regulations may constitute a criminal offence and could lead to a fine or imprisonment.

Safety regulations

RIGHT TO RENT REGULATIONS 2016 - RIGHT TO RENT IN THE UK, PART OF THE IMMIGRATION ACT 2015

From 1st February 2016 it is a requirement that checks are made on all occupiers over the age of 18 before any tenancy commences. These checks can be undertaken by either the landlord or the landlord’s agents and require validation of approved documents as advised by The Home Office.

Checks have to be made face to face with documents verified, copied and retained. Landlords or agents have an obligation to confirm that all tenants have the right to reside in the UK by inspecting their current passport or Visa.

LEGIONELLA RISK ASSESSMENT

Landlords have a responsibility to undertake a risk assessment on any property they rent out and then have this reviewed on a regular basis. The Health and Safety executive recognise that whilst there is a duty to assess the risk from exposure to Legionella this does not always require a full in depth detailed assessment and it is recommended that you have an assessment carried out at your property. In addition to this it is advised that at the start of each new tenancy, tenants are advised on what actions they can take to minimise the risk of contracting Legionnaires Disease.

DEREGULATION ACT 2015

In 2015, the Section 21 Notice to Quit document became a prescribed form and there are new rules which apply when serving notice. It should be noted that Section 21 is now only valid for six months and cannot be served before the first four months of the tenancy expiration. During a periodic tenancy, it is sufficient to serve two full months’ notice, removing the need to serve in line with renewal dates.

The new Act requires the tenant to notify their landlord in writing of repairs that are required to the property and, if appropriate, follow this up by contacting the Local Housing Authority (LHA). If the LHA serves certain types of enforcement notices on the landlord, then the Section 21 notice is invalidated. Details on regulation are correct at the time of printing.

Commitment to excellence

Sawyer & Co are an Association of Residential Lettings Agents Licensed Company: “ARLA Licensed members have provided detailed documentation of their business, allowing them to be fully regulated which in turn offers more protection to the consumer. They also hold either a professional qualification, or have passed our demanding competency test and adhere to our stringent Codes of Practice” (ARLA).

BY USING A LICENSED ARLA AGENT YOU ARE GUARANTEED: • That the agency is covered by our Client Money Protection (CMP) Scheme. ARLA have the ability to make discretionary grants if you suffer financial loss due to bankruptcy or dishonesty of the member or their firm • That the agency has Professional Indemnity Insurance.

This ensures you are financially covered for successful claims relating to members’ negligence, bad advice or mishandling of data • To be consulting with a qualified and trained agent who can give you professional up-to-date advice and guidance. All our members are required to carry out Continuous Professional Development CPD) each year • That you are dealing with an agent who voluntarily follows the Code of Practice and Rule of Conduct laid down by their professional body. If an agent does not follow the code, they can be fined or in worst cases expelled from membership of ARLA

Sawyer & Co are also a National Association of Estate Agents Licensed firm, members of The Property Ombudsman Scheme, The Guild of Professional Estate Agents and the Brighton & Hove Estate Agents Association. We strongly believe in the codes of practice enforced by these organisations.

• That you have a route to redress should something go wrong. It is a mandatory requirement that all our members belong to an independent redress scheme, the choice being either the Ombudsman Services: Property or the Property Ombudsman Service. This gives you, the consumer, an added level of protection.

The Property Ombudsman Service can award payments of up to £25,000’ (ARLA)

“I would like to personally thank all of our staff for always striving to go above and beyond what is expected to provide our clients with a personable service” Chris Sawyer

Hove 52 Church Road, Hove BN3 2FN Phone: 01273 778844

Portslade 10 Station Road, Portslade BN41 1GA Phone: 01273 383830

Brighton 113 St George’s Road, Kemp Town, Brighton BN2 1EA Phone: 01273 685111

London 121 Park Lane, Mayfair W1K 7AG Phone: 0207 0791519

sawyerandco.co.uk