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FAQ

Buying, selling and letting property can get pretty complicated and we are often asked about the details involved.

Here are a few general questions that frequently come up and the answers to those questions.

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There’s a lot to do when selling a house and one of the major headaches is having all the correct documentation. To sell your house, you’ll need around 9 documents in total depending on your property.

  • Proof of identity
  • Land Registry title documents
  • Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
  • Leasehold documents (if the property is a leasehold)
  • New build warranties (properties under 10 years old)
  • Gas safety certificate
  • Electrical checks
  • FENSA or CERTASS certificates for windows
  • Planning permission and building regulation certificates
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Our commission varies between 2.4% and 3% including VAT of the agreed selling price depending on the type of contract you choose.

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Generally, you can expect a house valuation to last anywhere from 30 minutes to 1+ hours, depending on the size and layout of your property and the number of rooms you have. If there are any unique features to your home, allow more time.

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There’s a lot to do when letting a house. Below is a list of the documentation that you’ll need in order to do this:

  • Terms of Business
  • Photo ID on all legal owners
  • Proof of ownership of the property to be rented
  • Proof of address for where you reside
  • Energy performance certificate
  • Gas safety certificate
  • Electrical checks
  • Inventory
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Head on to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) and register here www.gov.uk/tax-uk-income-live-abroad/rent.

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Unfortunately, we don’t provide any moving services. We provide buying and selling services, property valuations and property investments.

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Exchanging contracts is the end of a lengthy procedure of selling, or purchasing, a property. In our blog, we show you everything that could hold up an exchange of contracts.

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Deciding to purchase your first property can be a daunting process. To help you, we’ve created this first time buyer checklist.

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Property searches are a crucial part of buying a property. So, we’ve written a blog to explain more about how property searches work.

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Moving into a new property can take quite a while if you don’t know what you’re doing. So, read our 16 moving house tips to make the process easier for you.

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A ‘flying freehold’ is a crucial part of purchasing a new flat or house. To understand in detail what this means for you, read our blog explaining what a flying freehold is.

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A ‘share of freehold’ comes with various advantages and disadvantages, which we explain in our ‘share of freehold’ blog.

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You will be asked for a previous landlord, bank, employee and/or character references to demonstrate proof of income and suitability. You will also need to provide proof of ID, proof of address and proof of a 'Right to Rent' in England through a passport or combination of passport and valid visa.

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As the tenant, you are responsible for setting up accounts with the utility companies directly when you move into your property and also when you leave, taking care to provide meter readings at the beginning and end of the tenancy.

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Please contact your utility providers as part of the moving out process. Don’t forget to take meter readings on the last day of your tenancy.

Newark Street, Whitechapel, E1 To Let
Address Newark Street, Whitechapel, E1
View Home £ 2,750
Cavell Street, Whitechapel, E1 To Let
Address Cavell Street, Whitechapel, E1
View Home £ 2,750
Shore Place, South Hackney, E9 For Sale
Address Shore Place, South Hackney, E9
View Home £ 850,000

GOOGLE REVIEWS

Simon is one of the best estate agents I have ever worked with. He really cares about looking after his clients and properties and makes the whole process easy and stress free. Would highly recommend

Manal Shaker

02/15/2023

Simon is absolutely fantastic to work with. He is authentic, honest and trustworthy. As first time renters in London, Simon explained everything to us and remained accessible throughout the entire process. Definitely the best agent experience we have had.

Jackson Smith

09/15/2023

Simon was very accomodating and helpful throughout the rental application process

Brett Felsenthal

02/15/2023

Simon is polite, positive, professional and pragmatic in how he approaches tenants and landlords. He is a refreshing change from the mainstream agents we have used in the past. Gradually we're moving our lets and management to him. I can leave Simon to do what is required with faith and confidence.

Nicholas Paul

09/11/2024

Simon was fantastic as both a lettings and sales agent. Very communicative and flexible in his approach.

Chloe Nankivell

02/15/2023

I had a very smooth collaboration with Simon who was reactive, a good adviser and kind. Thank you for the great service!

margot ch

05/13/2023

Seriously knowledgeable, very reassuring and the friendliest chap you could hope to meet. Goes well beyond "just" an estate agent. More like a high end property consultant that can talk about investment decisions, interior design and everything in between. Highly recommended!

Dipta Malik

05/07/2024

Very professional and offers excellent service. You will be well looked after. Impressed with the technology and quality of virtual viewings. Thank you Simon!

Arta Alfere

02/15/2021

Easy, quick and smooth experience overall.

Ana Maa

02/15/2023

I've known Simon for quite a while now and his expertise and effort to attend to clients/tenants queries and problems are second to none. Simon is efficient, which comes from his years of experience and therefore things get sorted quickly. In a time where things are so fast paced, it's nice to know there is someone competent in charge dealing with the situation.

Pete-Sam

02/15/2023

We've been working with Simon for a number of years now and he has always been efficient and pragmatic on each letting, doing his best for both the landlord and tenant. He has also overseen works for us and is thorough in his inspections. Overall, he has been an absolute pleasure to work with.

E M

04/11/2024

Can’t thank Simon enough for helping us secure our first flat here in London. He was super helpful during the whole process and was always available for any questions. We are really happy!

Abby Wilson

10/15/2023

Simon is professional, pragmatic and efficient. He gives us great confidence that our properties are being managed well.

Richard

04/11/2024

I recently purchased a flat through Fine Living and I couldn't be happier with the service I received. From the very beginning, the communication was outstanding. They kept me informed every step of the way, promptly answered all my questions, and were always available to address any concerns I had. The entire process was smooth and stress-free. Simon and Steve were professional, efficient, and made buying a flat a positive experience. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell a property.

K L

06/12/2024

Excellent service from Fine Living the second time around. Always kept updated & the process was thorough & seamless. Would highly recommend!

Jennifer Nursiah

02/15/2023

I had a very smooth collaboration with Simon who was reactive, a good adviser and kind. Thank you for the great service!

margot chollet

05/15/2023

Simon has been a great guide and support throughout our tenancy. He was always available, helpful and he managed the communication with our landlord perfectly.

Paul Biard

08/15/2023

I recently purchased a flat through Fine Living and I couldn't be happier with the service I received. From the very beginning, the communication was outstanding. They kept me informed every step of the way, promptly answered all my questions, and were always available to address any concerns I had. The entire process was smooth and stress-free. Simon and Steve were professional, efficient, and made buying a flat a positive experience. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell a property.

K L

05/31/2024

Simon was a great agent. Understood what we were looking for, excellent communication and a very nice guy to work. Would highly recommend.

Luke Russo

02/15/2023

I was really impressed by the service I received here, in particular from Jack. He was 'on it' from the start and took his time in understanding what kind of property we were after and our other requirements. He was knowledgeable, professional and gave us an all-round easy experience and personal service. To be honest, I'm still pinching myself that he managed to find us such a great place to rent. Would highly recommend.

India Semper-Hughes

02/15/2021

Simon is fully hands on and on top of everything. Has made my life so easy while being an overseas landlord.

Roxanne Cohen

12/15/2023

Simon manages a rental flat for us and we very much enjoy working with him. His service is exceptional. He takes care of everything for us and we feel totally reassured that our property is in great hands. Any little issues our tenants might have, such as small repairs etc are dealt with right away in an efficient and professional manner. We recently had a change of tenants and Simon did a fantastic job of marketing the property and finding us excellent new tenants. He is proactive, communication is excellent and he is a lovely guy to work with too! Highly recommend.

Sarah Faulds

11/15/2023

Simon provided incredibly helpful and honest advice as I began my search for a rental property in London. I was nervous since it was my first time looking in the area, but our conversation really put me at ease. He also gave excellent guidance on the documentation my international partner would need for referencing. Overall, a great experience, I would highly recommend.

Chloe Murr

09/06/2024

We noticed a significant difference when our landlord change from our previous management company to Fine Living. We received information and response to our inquiries very quickly and when needed, we were able to communicate more effectively with the landlord. We felt that Simon cared not only about the landlord but also us, the tenants.

Alejandra Cordero

02/15/2023

Simon very kindly helped us with a valuation at short notice and was a pleasure to deal with.

Keith Wheatley

07/12/2024

I recently had the pleasure of working with Simon, and I must say, he exceeded all expectations. Simon's professionalism was evident from the get-go, and his friendly demeanor made the leasing process an absolute breeze. What truly impressed me was his lightning-fast response time to all of my inquiries. No question was too small, and he always made me feel like a top priority. If you're in need of leasing assistance, look no further than Simon. He's the epitome of excellent customer service and professionalism.

Laura Giersdorf

03/06/2024

Simon at Fine Living was absolutely brilliant! Was with us every step of the way when buying out first property. Very approachable, professional and efficient. Quick responses and wants the best for his clients.

Ines Delpy

09/06/2024

Simon is great to work with, super friendly and responsive. I would highly recommend house hunting with him!

Kelly Lenihan

02/15/2023

Excellent service, would highly recommend.

Kirk Pereira

02/15/2022

The service received from Simon was excellent. From ensuring all maintenance jobs were attended to, all legal requirements were adhered to and actually finding the tenant. A very seamless process. Would highly recommend.

Jennifer Nursiah

02/15/2022

The whole process was a breeze, and everything happened in a blur. I moved from a foreign country and Fine Living was able to get everything done within a week, from answering my first message to handing over the keys. I absolutely recommend!

Merwane Drai

02/15/2022

This is truly a unicorn of an organization! Simon is approachable, thoughtful, and extremely knowledgeable about his property. He made the entire process completely painless from the viewing through to signing the lease. He’s incredibly communicative and ensured that our rental was finished to the highest standard of cleanliness and repairs. We are now the proud tenants of the most wonderful home and are so grateful that we found Simon. 10/10 service, no notes!

Michaela Zamloot

10/15/2023

Positive experience working with Simon & team, from the start with the viewing, they were very responsive and timely in getting all the my questions answered and documents sent during the letting process. Would 100% recommend their services!

Joseph Chung

02/15/2022

Simon was extremely professional and a pleasure to work with in securing a flat in London. Would certainly recommend to all

Tommy Griffin

04/25/2024

Simon is truly a special estate agent. He's knowledgable and cares about the relationship with customers going the extra miles to inform properly and not to rush in his viewing. He makes you feel extremely taken care of and guided alongside the process.

Davide Cavagnino

02/08/2024

Simon has been great throughout all the process. He is extremely professional and reliable, I would definitely recommend him.

Luca Baldini

05/01/2024

I engaged Simon and Fine Living for the legal work on letting my home, his knowledge of the lettings market and the legal aspects made me feel very comfortable using him. We’ve got a great tenant and Simon is available should I need him for any assistance.

Kirk Smith

02/15/2023

Simon has been an excellent professional. He was very helpful and trustworthy since the first time I visited the flat. He went out of his way to make sure my needs and the landlord's were met and the lease signed as quickly as possible. In the uncertain environment of the London property market, having Simon's help was invaluable.

Nicola Speranza

05/15/2023

Fine living are excellent agents. Been working alongside them for several years now. They really look after both their tenants and their landlords. Would highly recommend then.

Andrew Black

09/11/2024

I've known Simon a few years now and would without hesitation recommend him to any landlord.

Philip Demetriou

09/11/2024

Renting our first London apartment through Simon was an incredible experience! Handling everything from abroad was made effortless by Simon's exceptional assistance. He accommodated our requests promptly, addressing all queries without delay. Our experience was flawless, and we're immensely grateful to Simon. We highly recommend his services to anyone seeking to rent in London, especially from overseas.

Zvika Weksler

12/15/2023

It's been a great experience renting a flat through Simon, he is always very kind and helpful

Tijana Markovic

02/15/2023

Really smooth move in process, Probably the best I’ve experienced so far living in the city! It’s been really nice having Simon/fine living as our estate agent - you can really tell they look after the tenants which can be quite unheard of nowadays.

Fleur

03/15/2023

Simon’s service was top notch. Professional, quick to respond and a great mediator between me and the landlord. Definitely a good experience overall. 🙌

Isauro López

09/15/2023

Simon is polite, positive, professional and pragmatic in how he approaches tenants and landlords. He is a refreshing change from the mainstream agents we have used in the past. Gradually we're moving our lets and management to him. I can leave Simon to do what is required with faith and confidence.

Nicholas Paul

09/11/2024

Simon at Fine Living was a pleasure to work with during the process of selling our apartment. The nature of selling an apartment or house can be very stressful, but Simon stayed calm and problem solved at every turn. He went above and beyond to hold our hands through this process and I can’t thank him enough. Cheers Simon.

Lyndon Ogbourne

09/04/2024

Simon is the most reliable trustworthy letting agent you can find! Paying attention to all details and doing fantastic job!I know him for 5 years, did few flats with him and all went smoothly. Try yourself and see.

Yael Epstein

02/15/2023

This is truly a unicorn of an organization! Simon is approachable, thoughtful, and extremely knowledgeable about his property. He made the entire process completely painless from the viewing through to signing the lease. He’s incredibly communicative and ensured that our rental was finished to the highest standard of cleanliness and repairs. We are now the proud tenants of the most wonderful home and are so grateful that we found Simon. 10/10 service, no notes!

Michaela Watterson

10/12/2023

5 stars at least! Moving abroad with a property in London and a busy life I wanted someone to deal with my property. Simon has been amazing as he is personally taking care of everything. He is quick, he explains what I do not know and he is very professional. He takes on the responsibility and take actions. 100% recommended

Erika Felici

02/08/2024

I would highly recommend Simon and Fine Living to anyone looking for a professional, attentive and transparent real estate agent to work with. Simon went above and beyond what I expected in order to successfully complete the sale and always did so with a helpful and respectful manner.

Alan Casey

02/15/2023

An absolute pleasure to interact with Simon. A true professional with a mastery of the London property market. Very knowledgeable on all his properties, with high quality virtual viewings tailored to the current climate. Highly recommended.

Alfie Ashton

02/15/2021

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