For landlords · Derby · Swadlincote · Coalville
Tired of being a landlord? Talk to us.
Smart Properties leases houses, HMOs, flats and bungalows from owners in Derby, Swadlincote and Coalville – and takes on the day-to-day running.
Asking us costs nothing, and nothing is agreed through this website.
How it works in one sentence
You lease your property to one of the companies in the M & C Smart Holdings Ltd group, trading as Smart Properties – which one depends on the area your property is in. We become the tenant, and we then let the property on to the people who live in it. Some people call this “rent to rent”.
Any arrangement is agreed in a written agreement, after we’ve spoken and looked at the property. We’ll always explain it to you in plain English first, and we’d encourage you to take your own advice before you sign anything.
Who this is for
Is this for you?
Fed up with the hassle
You’re tired of the phone calls, the repairs and the paperwork, and would rather hand the running of the property to someone else.
A difficult run
You’ve had a hard time with tenants, empty rooms or upkeep, and want a fresh start without selling.
Inherited or moved away
You inherited a property or have moved away, and don’t want to manage it from a distance.
More work than planned
You own an HMO, house, flat or bungalow that has turned into more work than you expected.
Standing empty
You have a property standing empty that you’d like to see looked after and lived in.
We can’t take every property, and leasing isn’t right for everyone. If it isn’t right for you, we’ll say so.
Straight answers
The worries landlords tell us about
Empty rooms and gaps
Landlords often ask who carries the cost when a property isn’t full. How that works would be set out in the written agreement before you sign anything. We’ll talk it through with you first, in plain English, so there are no surprises.
Rent that doesn’t turn up
If you lease your property to us, your rent would come from us under the written agreement – not from the individual people living there. We’ll explain what that means in practice, and what it depends on, before you decide.
Damage and repairs
Wear and tear, damage and repairs all have to be dealt with in the agreement. We’ll tell you who we’d expect to look after what, and why, before you commit. Nothing is left vague.
Calls from tenants
Day-to-day contact with the people living in the property would go through us, not you.
Paperwork and the rules
Safety checks, licences, deposits and insurance all matter, and the rules change. We’ll tell you which checks we’d want to see for your property and who would be responsible for each one – in writing – before anything is signed.
The process
What happens when you get in touch
- Tell us about your property. Fill in the short form below or give us a ring. It takes a couple of minutes.
- We call you. We’ll ask a few questions, answer yours, and tell you honestly if we think it’s a fit.
- We come and look. We’ll view the property and the paperwork with you.
- You get our offer in writing. If we both want to go ahead, we’ll set out what we’re proposing so you can read it properly and take advice. There’s no pressure and no obligation.
- If you both agree, you sign a written agreement and we get the property ready.
Before we start
What we look for in a property
What we look at
- Houses, HMOs, flats and bungalows in Derby, Swadlincote and Coalville (and close by – just ask)
- The condition of the property and what, if anything, needs doing before it can be let
- The property’s papers – for example gas and electrical reports, an energy certificate, and any licence that applies
- Who owns it and who is able to sign
What can stop a deal
- A mortgage lender or a freeholder who isn’t willing to give permission. We’ll ask about this early.
- Insurance that doesn’t allow the way the property would be used
- Serious repairs that need doing first
- Anything that means the property can’t lawfully be let in the way we’d need
Every property is looked at on its own merits. We’d rather tell you early than waste your time.
Where we work
Derby, Swadlincote and Coalville
Our offices are in Coalville and we run properties across all three areas. If your property is a little further out, please ask – we’ll tell you whether we can help.
A look inside
The homes we run
Here are some examples of rooms we have refurbished and now run in Derby.
Who we are
- Smart Properties is a trading name of M & C Smart Holdings Ltd (company number 16390212) and its group companies: Smart Properties (Derby) Ltd (11726965), Smart Properties (Warner) Ltd (13224941), Smart Properties (Eden) Ltd (13281828) and M & C Smart Properties Ltd (16642299). All are registered in England and Wales. Registered office: 113–115 Belvoir Road, Coalville, LE67 3PH (113 Belvoir Road, same postcode, for M & C Smart Holdings Ltd and Smart Properties (Derby) Ltd). Head office: 113–115 Belvoir Road, Coalville, LE67 3PH.
- Turning houses into homes since 2016 – we run rented homes and HMOs across Derby, Swadlincote and Coalville. We currently manage 74 active lets.
- Phone 01530 447471 · Email admin@smart-properties.uk
Please check that anyone offering to lease your property is who they say they are – ask for their company details, and for proof of anything they say they belong to. We’re happy to provide ours.
FAQ
Questions we’re often asked
Is this “rent to rent”?
Yes – that’s the name some people use. You lease your property to our company, we become the tenant, and we let it on to the people who live there.
Who deals with the people living in the property?
We do. Day-to-day contact goes through us, not you. We’ll explain in plain English exactly how the arrangement works, in writing, before you decide.
Am I committing to anything by getting in touch?
No. Filling in the form or ringing us is only the start of a conversation. Nothing is agreed through this website, and nothing is binding until you’ve both signed a written agreement.
How much rent would I receive?
It depends on the property, the area and what we agree together. We’ll talk about numbers once we’ve seen the property, and we’ll put any proposal in writing. We don’t quote figures online because every property is different.
How long would the agreement last?
That is something we’d agree with you and put in writing. We’ll explain the options after we’ve spoken.
Who pays for repairs and looks after safety checks?
This is set out in the written agreement, and we’ll go through it with you before you sign. We’ll be clear, in writing, about who is responsible for what.
Do I need to tell my mortgage lender or insurer?
You’ll almost certainly need to check with them first, and some lenders and insurers won’t allow it. We’ll ask about this early so neither of us wastes time. We can’t give you mortgage advice, so please speak to your lender or a mortgage adviser.
Do you take HMOs, houses, flats and bungalows?
We look at all of these in Derby, Swadlincote and Coalville. Each property is considered on its own merits, so please tell us about yours.
Do you ever buy properties?
Sometimes, depending on the property and the situation. Our focus is leasing, but if you are thinking about selling instead, mention it when you get in touch and we will tell you honestly whether it is something we could consider.
Will I get to see the agreement before I decide?
Yes. If we both want to go ahead, we’ll send our proposal in writing so you can read it and take your own advice – including from a solicitor – before you sign anything.
What does it cost to ask?
Nothing. There’s no charge for getting in touch, talking to us or having us look at your property.
What happens to my details?
We use them to reply to your enquiry and to look at whether we can help. We don’t sell your details. You can read more in our privacy notice.
Can you give me legal, tax or mortgage advice?
No. We can explain how we work, but you should take independent advice on your own situation before you agree to lease your property.
Tell us about your property
Fill this in and we’ll ring you. It only takes a couple of minutes. Please don’t include anything private beyond what’s asked.
Or ring us: 01530 447471 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm). Out-of-hours emergencies, for our existing tenants and landlords only: 07376 979213.