Lettings Options and Fees
Pace’s Essentials and Premium Lettings Services
Choosing the right level of support depends on how involved you want to be in managing your rental property. Our Essentials and Premium services both give landlords practical, compliant lettings support, with Premium offering a more comprehensive, hands-on service for those who want greater peace of mind. If you only need help finding a tenant and setting up the tenancy, you may also want to view our Tenant Find service.
| Item | Essentials | Premium | Ad hoc | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property Management | ||||
| Inventory | Inventory for unfurnished property included | Accompanied move in & inventory | £149 for up to 2 beds | |
| Property Visits | On month 3, 12 and then annually thereafter | On month 3, 12 and then six-monthly thereafter | £79 | |
| Repairs and Maintenance | Notification, resolution, access to in-house contractors | Also dealing with other property matters such as anti-social behaviour, boundary complaints and liaising with your solicitor and contractors | £59 | |
| Gas/EICR/EPC | Reminders and organising with our contractors | Liaise with your own contractor or plumbing insurance | ||
| Check out | Check Out and basic recommendations | Determining and negotiating deposit deductions | ||
| Deposit Disputes | Sending funds to TDS, raising the dispute if required is additional charge | Raising a dispute and dealing with correspondence | £299 | |
| Key cutting fee | £25 | £25 | NA | |
| Antisocial behaviour | Hourly Rate | Negotiating with tenants and other interested parties | ||
| Rent Management | ||||
| Credit Control | Collection of rent but not including the chasing of overdue payments | Full credit control service. Serving notices by hand if required. Please note that notices you intend to rely on for a court case should be drawn up by a specialist solicitor. Collection of vacated arrears if not paid within 60 days of move-out. Liaising with your solicitors and attending on any subsequent bailiff appointment | NA | |
| S13 rent increase notice | £99 | £99 | £99 | A rent increase notice in the prescribed format. Includes negotiation until a tenant raises a tribunal claim |
| Rent Increase tribunals | Hourly Rate | Hourly Rate | Hourly Rate | If the tenant raises a claim at tribunal and you want our assistance beyond the submission of a best price guide, our additional time will be charged at an hourly rate. |
| Draw up eviction notices | £75 | Included | £75 | Please note if you intend to rely on the notice in court you should instruct a solicitor. Internal notices are only used for warning purposes |
| Serve eviction notices by hand | £75 | Included | £75 | |
| Accounts Services | ||||
| Statements and paperwork | Monthly electronic statement and bank payment for rent | Hardcopy statements and duplicate statements on request | £23 per document | |
| Annual summary of payments | Included | £119 | ||
| Paying of invoices | Invoices for works we have organised deducted from the rent | Any invoices can be deducted from the rent | NA | |
| Deposit registration | £23 | £23 | £60 | We will register the deposit on your behalf with the TDS and hold the money in our segregated, audited and insured client account. Upon the yearly renewal of the registration of the deposit there is an annual fee of £15, which will be deducted from the month’s rent. |
Additional Services, available with all service levels:
| Item | Adhoc price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Property Maintenance | ||
| Gas safety certificate | £114 | From a registered gas engineer from our approved list, the charge includes our organisation fee. |
| Electrical safety certificate (EICR) | £234- 349 | From a registered electrical engineer from our approved list, depending on size of property. |
| Legionella inspection | £130 | A trained contractor will inspect the property for risk of legionella and provide a written report of recommendations. |
| Dealing with a council inspection/environmental health order | Hourly Rate | |
| Administration | ||
| Mid-term tenancy changes | £249 | If you would like us to reference an additional/change of tenant, draw up new agreements, reregister the deposit etc. |
| Guarantor Check | £239 | If a new guarantor is proposed by the tenant mid tenancy |
| Payments by post/cheque | £11 | Per payment |
| Administering Non-Resident Landlord Tax | £119 | If you are not usually resident in the UK and we must comply with HMRC's Non-Resident Landlord scheme on your behalf, there will be an additional administration charge annually. |
| Legal & Rent | ||
| Attend court with you | £245 | Please note we cannot represent you in court but we can provide a witness statement or accompany you. You may prefer to instruct a solicitor or barrister. |
| Attending with the bailiffs | £195 | The bailiffs will want someone to attend the property on the day on the landlord's behalf. You may do this yourself or we can do it for you. If we are instructed, we will also request the police attend if we feel there is a need. |
| Money claim for rent arrears | £250 | Once the tenant has vacated, if there are outstanding debts we can submit a money claim on your behalf. There will also be court fees which we will advise you of at the time and you will need to pay to us up front. |
| Tracing vacated tenants | £130 | We will provide the necessary information to and liaise with a third party tracing agent. Please note failed traces will still be chargeable at 50%. |
| Drafting a witness statement | £130 | To provide a witness statement for any reason for use in court where possible. |
| General | ||
| Hourly Rate | £195 | Any further action on your behalf not covered above, hourly rate |
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions landlords ask about Pace’s Essentials and Premium letting services. We’ve kept the answers clear and practical, so you can understand what’s included, where your responsibilities begin, and what to consider before deciding which service is the right fit for you.
Essentials is designed for landlords who want the basics covered, with the option to use Pace for additional support when needed. We will collect the rent, provide monthly electronic statements and let you know if a payment is late. However, if you want us to actively chase overdue rent, discuss late payments with tenants or manage more difficult conversations, that falls under the Premium service.
Premium gives you a more hands-on management service. It includes fuller credit control, support with more complex tenancy matters and broader contractor liaison. For example, under Essentials we can organise repairs through our in-house contractors. With Premium, we can also liaise with your own contractors, plumbing insurers, building insurers or other third parties where required. The live fee table also notes that Premium includes fuller support with matters such as antisocial behaviour, deposit deductions and wider property issues.
Essentials can work well if the tenancy is straightforward and you are comfortable taking on some responsibility yourself. It may also be cheaper if very little comes up. However, if there is a crisis or a more time-consuming issue, ad hoc charges may apply.
You can upgrade to Premium if you later decide you need more support, although a minimum 12-month commitment applies.
Our Premium service is designed for landlords who want greater peace of mind and a more hands-on level of support. With Premium, Pace’s experienced team takes a closer role in monitoring your tenancy, dealing with day-to-day issues and helping to keep things moving when questions, repairs or tenant matters arise.
It is our most comprehensive management option and is particularly useful if you do not want to be closely involved in the regular admin, communication and problem-solving that can come with letting a property. We can liaise with tenants, organise repairs, support with contractor communication and help manage issues before they become bigger problems.
Premium does not mean every possible cost is included. Some matters, such as formal rent review notices, major antisocial behaviour issues, legal notices, eviction work or unusually time-consuming situations, may still involve additional charges. We will always explain this clearly where it applies.
For many landlords, the real value of Premium is knowing that Pace is actively involved, experienced in handling difficult situations, and there to provide practical guidance when something crops up. It gives you a fuller level of support, while still being clear and transparent about what is and is not included.
A property inventory is a detailed written and photographic record of the property’s condition and contents at the start of a tenancy. It should note the condition of walls, flooring, fixtures, fittings, appliances, furniture and any outdoor areas, supported by clear photographs wherever possible.
It is important because it gives both landlord and tenant a clear record of how the property was handed over. If there is a disagreement at the end of the tenancy about damage, cleaning or missing items, the inventory becomes key evidence.
Without a proper inventory, it can be very difficult for a landlord to prove that damage happened during the tenancy. In a deposit dispute, an adjudicator will usually need clear evidence of the property’s original condition before agreeing to any deductions. A good inventory helps protect all parties and makes the end-of-tenancy process much clearer.
Rent guarantee is designed to protect landlords if a tenant falls into arrears or a serious tenancy issue leads to legal action. In the current rental market, we believe it is well worth considering.
The Renters’ Rights Act has brought significant changes to how landlords can regain possession of a property. Section 21 “no-fault” evictions have been abolished, which means landlords now need to rely on specific legal grounds if they need to ask a tenant to leave. This can make the process more evidence-led, particularly where there are issues such as antisocial behaviour, property damage or other serious tenancy breaches.
Rent guarantee can provide reassurance by covering rent arrears up to eviction, as well as legal costs for eviction proceedings linked to major tenancy breaches. It cannot prevent problems from happening, but it can reduce the financial risk if they do.
In our view, given the current legislative environment and the potential pressure on the court system, rent guarantee is an important safeguard for landlords to consider. Terms and conditions apply, and the cost will depend on factors such as the monthly rent and the level of cover required.
A selective licence is a licence issued by the local council for privately rented properties in certain designated areas. In Southend, some properties fall within selective licensing zones, which means landlords must apply to the council before letting the property.
As part of the application, landlords need to provide information about themselves and the property. The council will want to be satisfied that the landlord is a “fit and proper” person and that the property meets the required standards. This can include evidence of gas safety checks, electrical safety checks, appropriate occupancy levels and general property safety, including reducing hazards such as excess cold, falls or other risks to tenants.
Pace can help landlords with the application process by supporting with the form and helping gather the necessary documents. Once the property is licensed, the council may arrange a visit. Where we are involved, we can accompany the council during that visit and carry out a pre-visit beforehand, helping to identify and resolve any obvious issues before the council inspection takes place.
An Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC, shows how energy efficient a property is and gives it a rating from A to G. Most rental properties must have a valid EPC before they can be let, and under the current Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, privately rented homes usually need to achieve a minimum rating of E. (GOV.UK)
If your property is rated below E, you may not be able to let it unless improvement works are carried out or a valid exemption applies. An EPC is a straightforward survey carried out by a registered assessor, and it also gives useful recommendations on how the property’s energy performance could be improved.
Landlords should also be aware that the rules are expected to tighten. The Government has confirmed its intention for privately rented homes to meet a higher minimum standard by 2030, with the proposed requirement moving towards EPC C, although exemptions are expected to remain available in certain circumstances: (Gov.uk Assets)
In practical terms, having an EPC is not just a paperwork exercise. It helps you meet your legal obligations, gives tenants clear information about likely energy efficiency, and can help you plan ahead for future property improvements.
Client Money Protection, often referred to as CMP, is a scheme that protects landlords and tenants if a letting agent misappropriates client money, such as rent, deposits or other funds held on their behalf. It is a legal requirement for letting agents in England, Scotland and Wales.
For landlords, CMP provides important reassurance. It means that where an agent is holding money for you or your tenant, there is a recognised route to reimbursement if something were to go seriously wrong. It is separate from professional indemnity insurance, which protects the business rather than directly protecting the consumer.
At Pace, we understand that trust is a major part of choosing a letting agent. CMP is one of the safeguards that helps give landlords and tenants confidence that client money is being handled properly, transparently and in line with industry requirements.
A Section 13 notice is the formal legal process used to increase rent during an ongoing tenancy. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords must now use this process for rent increases, using Form 4A and giving tenants at least two months’ notice. Rent can usually only be increased once a year and the proposed increase should reflect the current open market rent. (Find out more details here)
At Pace, this is already a familiar process, as it is the route we have used for rent increases for many years. We will contact you in good time to discuss the current rental value of your property and advise on a realistic increase before any notice is served.
If the tenant does not agree with the proposed increase, we can attempt to negotiate with them on your behalf. Tenants now have clearer rights to challenge rent increases they believe are above market level, so it is important that any proposed increase is properly considered, evidenced and handled in the correct way.
Because the new rules make rent increases more procedural and potentially more time-consuming, support with Section 13 notices and rent increase negotiations may be chargeable depending on your service level. We will always explain any applicable costs clearly before proceeding.
If a tenant disagrees with proposed deposit deductions, the first step is to try to reach a fair agreement. With our Premium package, your experienced property manager will handle this process for you, including liaising with the tenant, obtaining quotes for any necessary works and advising you on what would be considered a reasonable deduction.
This is important because deposit deductions must be fair and evidence-based. For example, normal wear and tear needs to be taken into account, as a landlord cannot usually claim for putting the property into a better condition than it was at the start of the tenancy.
Where possible, we will work with both parties to reach an agreement without the need for a formal dispute. If agreement cannot be reached, we can raise a dispute with TDS on your behalf and submit the relevant evidence for adjudication.
Please note that this service is included with our Premium package and is available as an add-on with Essentials.
Tenant deposits are protected through the TDS insured scheme, which is a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme.
With this type of scheme, the deposit money is held by Pace in our designated client account with Metro Bank, while the deposit is formally registered and protected through TDS. The funds are treated as client money, which means they are kept separate from Pace’s own business funds.
This provides reassurance for both landlords and tenants. The tenant knows their deposit is properly protected, and the landlord has a clear, compliant process in place if there is ever a disagreement about deductions at the end of the tenancy. In the unlikely event of business insolvency, designated client funds are ringfenced rather than treated as company money.
