LANDLORDS

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Which areas do you currently take properties? 

​We are currently sourcing suitable properties in Cork City and suburbs within walking distance of the city center or a public transport route.

What types of property do you deal with? 

We are interested in properties of all types and sizes, although three to six bedroom houses tend to work best for our purposes.  Our aim is to offer high quality, comfortable accommodation as long or short term stays for working professionals.  Things such as parking or a big garden don’t always matter.  If you’re unsure whether your property fits our criteria, please contact us for a no obligation chat.

How quickly could Dunne Properties rent my property? 

Firstly we’ll need to establish your current needs and wants, and whether this strategy will work for you.  Then we’ll need to view the property, after which we will make you an offer within 48 hours based on local market conditions in your area.  The price and terms agreed at this stage will be the price we pay for the duration of the contract regardless of market conditions and whether the property is tenanted or not.  Depending on the properties’ current condition we may require a month or so to carry out any refurbishment, but if your property is vacant and ready for our purposes we could be signing contracts and paying your first month’s rent the next day! 

What are your fees? 

There are no fees, believe it or not!  We don’t charge monthly commission, tenant finders fees, or high management fees; and there are no hidden charges further down the track.  We make our money from being able to charge a premium to our tenants for providing comfortable rooms in a stylish home, inclusive of all bills. 

How long are the contracts? 

We only take on long-term contracts of 3-5 years.  The length of the contract can be negotiated during the acceptance of our services.  Towards the end of the contract, negotiations can then be made for renewal, or even as an option to buy the property at some point in the future. 

Does Dunne Properties pay a deposit? 

No, we don’t pay a deposit.  We will however do light refurbishments where needed, repair fixtures and fittings and dress the property to an appealing high standard.  During our fixed term, we will maintain this level of finish and keep on top of all the little jobs, which will mean you’ll get your property back at the end of our agreement in possibly better condition than when we took it from you.  We collect individual deposits from our tenants to safeguard against any potential damages to the property, which in turn protects you. 

How many properties can you manage? 

Providing the property meets our requirements, we have the scope and resources to successfully manage multiple properties at any one time. 

Would you consider taking on multiple houses from my portfolio? 

​Yes, we certainly would.  We will happily offer our same procedure for as many properties you might have, provided they meet our criteria. 

I have some friends who are also landlords, could you help them too? 

​Yes we could.  And when you recommend a friend we’ll pay you a referral bonus of €100 for every property we take on!  

Does my property need to be refurbished before you rent it?

No, not at all.  We are happy to lightly refurbish and dress the property at our expense.  If a bigger refurbishment is required, we may ask you to contribute towards the cost of refurbishment as it is your property.

What can I expect from a light refurbishment? 

‘Light refurbishment’ is mostly painting work and rearrangement or replacement of existing furniture.  We’ll also fully dress rooms with ornaments, artwork and soft furnishings, give bathrooms and kitchens a ‘face-lift’ where necessary, and even convert second reception rooms into bedrooms.   

Does the property need to be furnished? 

Not necessarily.  We take on fully furnished, partly furnished, and completely unfurnished properties. However, as we intend to offer attractive homes of a high standard, the existing furniture in your property might not be suitable and we may ask you to remove it.  Our customers are professionals who expect a higher standard of living than that of a typical student accommodation. 

How do I know my home won’t get damaged?  

Rest assured that we only allow working professionals or mature/postgraduate students to live in our properties.  We do thorough employer, reference, and credit checks on potential tenants and carry out regular inspections.  Often an employer is responsible for housing the resident, so their behavior and care of the property is directly linked to their employment terms and conditions.  We do not lease to families, pets or children.  We hire outside cleaners and gardeners to ensure the property is kept clean and tidy, and ensure a rapid response to any maintenance issues that might occur.   

How much wear and tear can I expect to see as it will be a shared household? 

Many landlords are concerned that multiple tenants will mean more wear and tear to their property.  This isn’t the case when letting to Dunne Properties.  Not only are we incredibly picky about whom we let live in our properties, but we’ll have an outside cleaner come fortnightly and we’ll carry out minor maintenance repairs at our cost throughout the duration of our contract.  Our properties are often in better condition once we’ve finished with them than they were when we took them over! 

Do you have your own tradespeople? 

Yes, we have a team of fully qualified and trusted tradespeople whom we use for maintenance and general repairs.   But if you’d prefer to use your own trusted tradespeople, that’s okay too. 

Who will be responsible for major repair works and safety regulation checks? 

As the landlord, this is your responsibility, however we will organize the arrangements for works to be carried out leaving you to confirm and make the necessary payments.  Responsibilities of the Landlord and Dunne Properties will be outlined in the contractual head of terms.  

Will I have to deal with problem tenants? 

No!  Essentially once our contract is signed, we become your tenants.  We deal with the property’s’ occupants. All you have to do is sit back and receive your rent every month! 

Will I have to pay for any damages caused by the tenant? 

No – we will cover these should they occur and pass the charges on to our tenant.  You will only be responsible for normal landlord maintenance – maintaining the hot water system, radiators and other water systems, etc.  Our contract will state our full responsibilities along with yours. 

What if a tenant doesn’t pay, will I still get my rent? 

Yes, although in reality this rarely ever happens.  We guarantee to pay you the agreed rent ON TIME regardless of any tenant non-payment.  Tenants are our problem, not yours.  

How do you ensure all of your tenants get along? 

We carry out thorough reference checks as well as meeting every tenant in person.  We will not place a tenant unless they are a good fit for the house and its current tenants.  We want everyone to be happy and we pride ourselves on offering a premium renting experience.  It’s important to us that we have happy tenants and happy landlords. 

How will I get paid? 

The agreed rent will be paid on time via a standing order direct to your bank account on the first of every month (or a time that suits you) for the duration of our contract. 

Will I have to be involved at all once the agreement is signed? 

Our aim is to take the hassle out of being a landlord!  The only time you should ever really need to be involved is if there is structural/exterior work that needs doing to the building.  Otherwise, we will sort and arrange all legalities relating to the management, such as fire safety and heat/smoke/carbon monoxide alarms.  We’ll also take care of utilities.   

What input will I have in the property once I sign the contract with you? 

​Once we take over tenancy at the property, it is your choice whether you’d like to visit the property for quarterly inspections, or even not to visit at all.  We’ll pay you the agreed rent every month and give you updates on inspections and any maintenance required, including gas safety checks.  Dunne Properties will take all the hassle out of being a landlord – no tenant issues, no voids, no missing rents – just guaranteed rent and peace of mind! 

What if my circumstances change and I want to get my house back? 

Unexpected things happen in life– we get this, and we’re always willing to be understanding and flexible wherever we can.  We can put a break clause in our contracts, but we’ll also need to ensure we treat everyone correctly, including our tenants living in the property.   We must be able to allow them enough time to leave, and for us to serve the correct notices regulated by law.

We ask our landlords to give us a minimum of six months’ notice if they do not intend on renewing our contract at the end of term, and we’ll do the same.  We ask for this length of notice in order to allow our tenants to find new homes without the added stress of having to do it in a short time frame.  If we have invested money into your home to upgrade it, there may be a percentage of that cost that you’ll have to refund back to us.  This is all clearly explained in our contract with you.