What we do
Why Sawyer & Co.
Sawyer & Co. have been letting properties of all types since our launch in 2009, with many of our professional property experts having over 20 years’ experience in this field. We pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity, credibility and transparency, operating to ensure both our landlords and tenants experience the highest standard of service possible.
Outstanding Customer Service
Sawyer & Co. lettings are dedicated to excellence, which combined with our professionalism and high-quality customer service, highlights our commitment to “going the extra mile” in everything we do.
We have built a reputation in the local community for our integrity and progressive approach, consistently delivering results for our clients. Our team is well-equipped to provide expert advice on the technical aspects of the lettings market and possesses comprehensive local knowledge of Brighton, Hove, and Sussex. We leverage our deep local insights, specialised lettings acumen and robust infrastructure to offer landlords an unparalleled service with outstanding outcomes.
Our multi-departmental service spanning sales, lettings, and block management, enables us to deliver a broad and informed perspective to our customers. This expertise ensures our service portfolio is well-rounded and effective whether you are landlord seasoned in property investment or just starting out.
We recognise that being a successful landlord entails more than just letting properties—it requires a deep understanding of the market, adherence to compliance, and making well-informed decisions. We are committed to educating and empowering you, the landlord, to navigate these challenges with confidence.
At Sawyer & Co, we believe that renting your property also requires more than just an agent; you need a partner who is aligned with your goals and committed to achieving them.
Protection & peace of mind for our landlords and tenants is of the utmost importance to us. Our Awards & Professional Associations, gained as a result of our client centered approach, offer this.
As a regulated member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), our clients can be confident that their funds are safe and secure and that they are using an agent that complies with the latest industry regulations. Our recognition as the ‘Best Independent Estate Agent’ in our area by the Guild of Property Professionals reflects our conformity to their rigorous standards, granting us exclusivity in our region. Additionally, our membership with the Property Ombudsman for lettings, sales, and block management, and the Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association, assures our
customers of our commitment to the highest professional standards and strict adherence to the codes of conduct of these respected bodies.
Maximise Your Property’s Potential with Sawyer & Co’s Expert Management Services
Managing property can be both rewarding and complex, involving intricate regulations, asset maintenance, and securing reliable tenants. At Sawyer & Co, our ARLA-qualified team with extensive management experience makes property ownership more straightforward, profitable, and free from stress.
With our long-standing dedication to excellence, we offer bespoke property management solutions tailored to the unique needs of landlords and investors in the dynamic current market. Whether you are letting, purchasing, selling, or managing investments, our team provides essential compliance knowledge, personalised advice, and robust support, ensuring you can pursue your property goals with confidence.
Brand Awareness
Our offices are situated in prime high street locations throughout Brighton and Hove, affording our clients maximum exposure for their properties. We offer properties for sale and to rent and property management across the whole of the Brighton and Hove area from Shoreham-by-sea to Peacehaven, with our Block/Estate Management department covering most of Sussex. We enjoy excellent footfall, with many clients visiting in person to undertake initial discussions and then to place their properties with us.
Our multi-departmental expertise in sales, lettings, and block management allows us to offer a more comprehensive service. ‘Buy to Let’ investors trust us due to our ability to advise on all aspects of their investments. Our Block Management knowledge also helps us to progress sales because we fully understand leasehold/freehold issues. This cross-departmental expertise enhances sales overall.
Marketing
Presentation of our rental properties is crucial to their marketability so to present each property in the best possible way both on the national portals and web-based media, we produce professionally designed details to promote the most attractive features and provide valuable information to buyers. To ensure that our properties stand out from the crowd, our attention to detail includes striking photography, concise text highlighting your property’s most salient points and high-quality floor plans. Instantly marketed by text and email in addition to being placed on our Sawyer & Co. website and the national sites, each property is given the best chance of efficient rental at the best possible price.
Our high-profile office locations in Brighton and Hove heightens our brand awareness, attracting many tenants to us both in person and via our fully responsive website and the national property portals. This together with our innovative marketing campaigns and proactive approach ensures that our rental properties are never on the market for long.
Flexible
Sawyer & Co values flexibility and choice. We provide three tiers of management services, designed to accommodate your preferred involvement level and meet your specific requirements.
By listening to our clients, we have developed a comprehensive service within our lettings department that expedites the rental process and achieves maximum rental values.
Let only
We would generally advise that our ‘Let Only’ service would be most suitable for experienced or corporate landlords with a deep understanding of relevant legislation or those with their own management departments. This service requires a solid grasp of property law and management practices to navigate independently. For most landlords, especially those without extensive experience, opting for a part or fully managed service is safer and more beneficial, ensuring compliance with legal obligations and reducing the burden of day-to-day property management.
Fee: One month’s rent plus VAT subject to a minimum of £1531.20 inc. VAT (£1276+VAT)
This service includes the following:
- Production and distribution of promotional materials, to include photographs and a floorplan
- Arranging, where appropriate, an initial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), Gas Safety Certificate and other legal required certification
- Provision of a To Let board
- Promotion of your property on Rightmove, Zoopla, Primelocation and OnTheMarket as well as our own website, sawyerandco.co.uk
- Accompanied viewing service
- Negotiate the terms of a tenancy
- Carry out the initial Right to Rent checks
- Completion of comprehensive credit and income
- checks on prospective tenants, for which we employ a third-party specialist
- Production of an appropriate tenancy agreement and associated documentation
- Collection of an appropriate deposit, which is lodged in our client account and registered with a Client Money Protection Scheme*
- Collection of the first month’s rent. We arrange for subsequent payments to be made directly to you
- Arrange an Inventory & Schedule of Condition (signed by the tenant) for you to use as the basis for comparison when the tenant vacates*
*Subject to additional fee
Part Managed
Fee: 12% including VAT (10% plus VAT)
Our Part Managed service includes all the benefits of our Let Only Service and in addition, Sawyer & Co Property Management will:
- Collect 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
- Chase rent arrears
- 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. Before the tenant’s deposit can be returned, a copy of the schedule of dilapidation is sent to the landlord for subsequent approval
- We will remind you when the Gas Safety Certificate EICR, EPC and end of tenancy renewals are due, and send you updates about major changes to legislation.
Full Managed
Fee: 14.4% including VAT (12% plus VAT)
In addition to the Letting and Part Managed Service as detailed above, this includes:
- Management of maintenance and repairs
- Collection of rent, chasing arrears and paying any agreed outgoings
- 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
- Prior to the expiry of any fixed term contract, contact the Tenant to enquire whether they would like you to consider an extension of their tenancy
- Arrange tenancy renewals for further fixed term*
- Before we organise the release of the tenant’s security deposit an end of tenancy inventory check out will be arranged and we will negotiate any dilapidations.
- Arranging Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), as an when required
- Service of a Legal Notice for Possession
*Subject to additional fee
Additional fees
A full list of our fees is available on request or alternatively can be accessed via our website
Where we have stated that we will ‘arrange’ a specific service the Landlord should be aware that they are liable for the cost of the contractor invoice Our Part and Fully Managed Services are subject to a tenancy set up fee of 1.5 weeks’ rent + VAT (Min £690 inc. VAT / £575 plus VAT) this includes the marketing of your property, referencing, drafting AST and arranging the inventory.
Refurbishment Services
At Sawyer and Co, we are committed to helping you maximise the potential of your property investments through essential maintenance and thoughtful refurbishments. Our goal is to ensure your property not only meets market standards but stands out, enhancing its aesthetic appeal and functionality. We offer a fully managed refurbishment service that begins with a detailed consultation to understand your needs and priorities. Whether it’s essential updates like rewiring, boiler installations, or cosmetic improvements such as redecorating and new flooring, we meticulously plan and coordinate every aspect to align with your timeline and budget.
Our collaborative approach involves working closely with trusted contractors and designers, ensuring that all refurbishments are of the highest quality. We also consider the timing of significant upgrades, like installing a new bathroom, to coincide with periods that minimise inconvenience to tenants, such as when the property is unoccupied. This mindful scheduling allows us to address both urgent maintenance needs and larger projects without disruption.
By offering a refurbishment service we remove the hassle factor by simplifying the process of maintaining and upgrading your property, ensuring it remains attractive and functional without you needing to directly manage contractors, timetables and inspections or navigate complex renovations
By managing the refurbishment process from start to finish, we provide a seamless service that lets you focus on the broader aspects of your investment. From initial design consultation to the final touches, our goal is to increase your property’s rental yield and attract quality tenants. With Sawyer and Co, you have a partner who is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the value of your property through strategic improvements and professional care.
Rescue Service
Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of property legislation can be a daunting task for landlords. At Sawyer and Co, we understand the complexities involved in maintaining compliance with the latest regulations. It is understandable, given the levels of legislation plus the layers that keep coming through, how very easy it can be for landlords without professional advisors to be letting their properties in a non-compliant way. That’s why we offer our Compliance Rescue Service, designed to support landlords who may currently manage their properties independently or through Let-Only services.
Our service acts as a safeguard, ensuring that your property adheres to all current legal standards, thereby mitigating the risk of incurring severe consequences such as very heavy fines, a criminal record and in extreme cases even imprisonment. We provide comprehensive assessments of your property’s compliance status and offer tailored solutions through either our fully managed or part-managed services. By entrusting us with the oversight of your property, you gain peace of mind knowing that all aspects of legislation are being expertly handled.
Our team of professionals is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of compliance, conducting thorough checks and updates as required by law. This proactive approach not only ensures your property is compliant but also enhances its appeal and longevity as a rental offering. With Sawyer and Co, you can be confident that your investment is secure, compliant, and optimised for success in today’s market.
Relocation
People 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 Property Professionals we have connections in over 900 towns and cities across the UK, all capable of introducing tenants to our properties. We advertise our clients’ properties in our associated Mayfair office on Park Lane together with over 100 other associated offices across Greater London. Often professionals and families relocating require rental accommodation for specific periods during satellite employment or to discover an area before they decide where to settle down thus exposure to this affluent market place is key.
If you are looking to move out of the area yourself, we can refer you to our associated offices who will help you with your rental property search.
Client Money
Sawyer & Co are part of a Client Money Protection Scheme. Our Client Money Protection (CMP) Scheme is a compensation scheme run by the Propertymark which provides compensation to landlords, tenants and other clients should an agent misappropriate their rent, deposit or other client funds.
Independent Redress
Sawyer & Co are part of The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPOS). This scheme has been providing consumers and property agents with an alternative dispute resolution service since 1990.
The Ombudsman’s resolutions are designed to achieve a full and final settlement of the dispute and all claims made by either party. The Ombudsman can, where appropriate, make compensatory awards in individual cases up to a maximum of £25,000 for actual and quantifiable loss and/or for aggravation, distress and/or inconvenience caused by the actions of an agent.
You can learn more about TPOS here: www.tpos.co.uk
Rent Protection
We understand the importance of financial security to landlords, however even the best tenants can fall on hard times due to unforeseen circumstances such as redundancy or long-term illness. To ensure peace of mind we offer a Rent Protection Scheme which will guarantee the rent for the term of the tenancy in addition to offering legal protection. Our associated insurance company can also offer Landlords Emergency Assistance, Buildings Insurance and Portfolio Insurance. To find out more about this please contact one of our friendly team of experts.
Accompanied
We always accompany prospective tenants to view our landlords’ properties, fully prepared to be able to answer all questions they may have.
Always Available
With increased leads coming from the internet and with today’s technology enabling us to engage with people outside of office hours, we have implemented a structure to ensure efficient responses and availability for landlords and tenants. Sawyer & Co. has partnered with a range of ‘proptech’ firms to provide an enhanced and efficient customer journey, for example, every enquiry from the property portals such as Rightmove is responded to automatically and tracked to ensure that our staff members contact the customer quickly and respond to their needs. Customers can also contact us 24 hours a day using our website’s ‘Livechat’ service. We provide feedback within 24 hours, often out of office hours, all staff receiving work emails on mobile phones and remote logins to our work stations.
And in a world where people like to do more online, prospective tenants now have the option to book viewings straight into our web-based diary.
Tenants
At Sawyer & Co. our lettings team consistently ‘go the extra mile’ not only for our landlords but for our tenants too, ensuring that their tenancy is as enjoyable as possible. Available during extended hours to deal with any issues that may arise we pride ourselves on building a solid professional relationship with our tenants, advising them on the local area, introducing them to relevant professionals where necessary and working hard to find the perfect property.
Our Employees
To have achieved our exceptional reputation in the local lettings market we realise our greatest asset is our staff. Energetic and ambitious, loyal and dedicated, they view estate agency as a rewarding career rather than just a job, sharing our vision and working hard to achieve it. Appreciating the needs of both landlords and tenants alike they aim to ensure an efficient, seamless process.
Most of our staff live in the area they serve or have even grown up there, imparting our company with a strong sense of community. Central to our success is the extensive local knowledge offered by our highly experienced and qualified lettings team, superbly placed to market every property with genuine understanding of its location and facilities.
Landlord Fee
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU
Services we offer
We offer a comprehensive range of property solutions tailored to meet your needs. Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to delivering outstanding services, ensuring a seamless and successful experience every step of the way.
Find out how much your home is worth
Curious about the value of your property? At Sawyer & Co Estate Agents, we offer a free and no-obligation property valuation service. Our experienced valuers will assess your property’s market value based on factors such as its location, size, condition, and recent sales in the area.
