Proper Local is an award-winning and independent letting agency specialising in property rentals and property management in E14, including the Isle of Dogs. We pride ourselves on our local knowledge, specialised service, and our highly quality letting agent service.
Our unique and modern approach to property management and exceptional customer service sets up apart. We work with landlords and tenants to provide solutions to meet their exact requirements.
Choosing Proper Local as your letting agent eliminates the stress and complexities of being a landlord in the Isle of Dogs. We offer fixed property letting fees, regulations support, and personalised services. Additionally, you benefit from one point of contact. A single agent will liaise with you from the initial valuation to rental administration until the end of the tenancy.
Our local knowledge means you can be confident of receiving the best advice from your agent. You can also expect us to match the right tenant with your rental property. In addition, we can also advise on how to maximise rental yield, resolve tenant issues, and ensure your property adheres to the latest legislation regarding lets.
What's more, we also offer free property valuations to anyone interested in selling a property in these areas. We are experts in the Canary Wharf property market and understand what your property is really worth, including how to maximise its value. As a thoroughly modern business, we embrace new technologies to reduce costs – passing the savings onto you.
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Why Choose our Independent Letting Agent services?
Letting a rental property can be a complex, time-consuming task full of challenges. In addition, you must deal with issues regarding tenants, property maintenance, marketing and vacancies. Therefore, it makes sense to choose a local, independent agency that will put your needs first.
Unlike other letting agencies in the Isle of Dogs, Proper Local is fiercely independent. Our dedication to clients means you can rely on our personalised service and unbiased advice. This type of service is one corporate letting agencies cannot rival.
Here are four reasons to choose an independent letting agent if you are a new or seasoned landlord.
1. Local expertise. Proper Local specialises in the Isle of Dogs and has many years of experience assisting landlords and tenants in the area. We have first-hand experience with what it’s like to live here on the Isle of Dogs because that’s where the business owner Christian Thomas lives. We understand the neighbourhood, with its quiet streets, green spaces, farm, terraced houses, warehouses, and best transport routes to central London.
2. Local experience. Proper Local has over 17 years of experience managing rental properties in the Isle of Dogs and the surrounding areas. So, you can be sure that the advice our letting agents give is based on real-life experience. This fact puts us in a unique position when assisting landlords and tenants.
3. Personal service. Dealing with an independent letting agent in the Isle of Dogs means you enjoy a service tailored to your needs. To us at Proper Local, you are more than a valued client. We realise that you entrust us with an investment asset. Therefore, we care for these as if it was our own. Because we are an independent agency, we can offer something few corporate agencies can offer – one point of contact throughout the rental process. We take care of rental valuations, tenant screening, contracts, property management and marketing vacancies.
4. Honest communication. You can rely on us for honesty in all our communications – whether this is property valuations, rental advice, or feedback from viewings. We always provide realistic valuations on potential rental yield. However, our experienced agents will give feedback on a property’s potential to increase its rental value. This may include recommendations on repairs or maintenance. In addition, you have a dedicated letting agent who you can call whenever there is a need. This is all part of the exceptional service you can expect from an independent agency.
Our Awards & Accreditations
Proper Local prides itself on the many awards and accreditations received. Recognition by experts in the industry attests to our dedication to consistently high levels of service. In addition, these awards guarantee that you can rely on our letting services, regardless of the type of property you want to let.
Proper Local Awards
Gold Trusted Service Award from Feefo. For several years, Proper Local has proudly displayed its 5.0/5-star rating. These ratings are based on client reviews on the independent reviews website Feefo. This award makes us one of the top-performing letting agencies in the Isle of Dogs
Best Estate Agent Guide Awards 2022. Proper Local was awarded the winner of the Best Estate Agent Guide in the Letting Agent Brand. This makes us proud to be recognised as the top performer from over 500 lettings agencies in the United Kingdom.
Proper Local Accreditations
Proper Local aims to instil trust as an accredited service provider for landlords and tenants. Industry-recognised accreditations give you confidence that we always comply with relevant standards and regulations.
Client Money Protect Scheme (CMP). We are one of the few agencies in the Isle of Dogs to have signed up for the CMP scheme. Why is this important? This scheme guarantees that tenants or landlords receive reimbursement should a letting agency misappropriate the deposit, rent, or other client funds.
The Property Ombudsman (TPO). This independent service reviews complaints from landlords or tenants against residential letting agents. You have peace of mind that we fully comply with the high standards set out in the Code of Practice directive.
Trading Standards Institute Code of Conduct. You have the assurance that we always act professionally, putting our clients’ interests first.
Our Lettings Service
Landlords in the Isle of Dogs and surrounding districts rely on Proper Local for a one-point- of-contact service. We feel this gives you the confidence to entrust us to care for your investment asset. So, what can you expect from our letting service? Here are a few highlights.
Marketing Service
Proper Local has a professional marketing team to increase exposure for your rental properties. To attract the most potential tenants, we write honest yet enticing descriptions to market the property to a wide audience. We also take professional photos to highlight the best aspects of the property and its location. In addition, our extensive database of loyal clients ensures that tenant turnover and vacancies are kept to a minimum.
Property Management
Proper Local deals with the complexities of property management, freeing up your time. Our property managers work hard to communicate with tenants and landlords. We also manage every step of the rental process – from processing applications to collecting rent, inspecting properties and resolving disputes.
Transparent Letting Fees
A reason many landlords choose Property Local is our modern fixed fee model. When you sign up with us, you know precisely how much you pay in letting fees every month. There are no hidden extras, and our fees are competitively priced. These also include robust tenant referencing.
Proper Local Promise
You also benefit from our Proper Local Promise. We strictly adhere to our own code of practices to provide an unrivalled letting service in the E14 district.
If you’d like to hear more, get in touch or request a free property valuation.
Why Tenants Like The Isle of Dogs
Not many London residents can boast of living on an island – however, people living on the Isle of Dogs can. The peninsula is popular with tenants due to its quiet neighbourhoods, excellent transport links, and proximity to spacious green areas. There is also a wide range of properties to choose from – period terraced houses, warehouse conversions, and modern multi-storey apartment blocks.Frequently Asked Questions
How much will I have to pay in letting fees?
The costs involved in selling your property consist of:
We charge letting fees on a fixed fee basis, not on a percentage of rental income. The amount you pay depends on the level of service you require. Our basic service includes tenant referencing, rent collection, collecting and holding the deposit, and inventory. We also provide comprehensive property management services on a fixed-fee basis, depending on the size of the property.
You can check out our fees here.
Do I have to pay additional marketing costs?
No, our competitive, reasonable letting fees also include additional marketing to attract new tenants.
Do tenants have to pay fees?
Tenants living in rental properties do not pay any fees to Proper Local. The letting services we carry out are all covered by the landlord fees. Therefore, your tenants do not pay extra for referencing, inventory or administration fees.
Why should I use a letting agency to manage my rental property?
Managing a residential property rental means dealing with many complex and ever-changing laws and regulations. Using a letting agency like Proper Local gives you peace of mind about being a responsible landlord. Simply put – we take care of all matters relating to letting your property, leaving you to focus on what matters most – running your business.
Should I inform my mortgage lender before I rent my property?
You must notify your mortgage lender if you plan to rent the property. They have separate mortgage rates and conditions if tenants will be living there. This may mean changing to a buy-to-let mortgage.
Do I need landlord insurance?
It is not a legal requirement to have landlord insurance, but it is a good idea. This protects you from financial liability if a tenant or visitor injures themselves on the property. Other types of insurance to consider are buildings insurance and rent guarantee insurance. It’s also good to note that tenants should have – although mandatory – contents insurance.
How much rent can I charge in the Isle of Dogs?
Arrange a valuation with Proper Local to find out how much you can expect from your rental property. The rental market is constantly changing, and we can offer a free, no-obligation valuation, so you know how much rent to ask.
