At M A S O N S, we regularly review our internal processes and partnerships for specialist services to ensure our landlords and tenants continue to receive the very best service.
We’re excited to tell you about our newest partner: Hazelton Mountford.
M A S O N S recently established this new partnership to enable us to offer a gold-standard referencing service alongside a range of insurance products tailored to meet the needs of landlords and tenants.
Hazelton Mountford is an independent, chartered broker specialising in delivering tailored insurance solutions with expertise and integrity, through a personalised service that aims to bring peace of mind to every client.
Why is M A S O N S working with Hazelton Mountford?
This new partnership brings a gold-standard referencing service to all M A S O N S landlords, along with a range of bespoke insurance packages for our managed landlords and contents insurance for tenants.
We chose to work with Hazelton Mountford for several reasons. The first important point to share is that they are a chartered insurance broker. Why does this matter? Well, it might surprise you to know that only approximately 5% of UK insurance brokers have achieved chartered status. This puts Hazelton Mountford in quite an exclusive category.
Chartered status brings serious obligations in terms of ensuring that all advice, services, and ongoing support provided to clients meet a very high standard. We think M A S O N S landlords and tenants deserve nothing less!
Here are four more points that set Hazelton Mountford apart from the crowd:
1. Getting referencing right.
Years of experience in the lettings market have shown us that accurate referencing at the outset of all tenancy agreements is vital. We’ve already shared the pitfalls that can occur when thorough referencing checks are not undertaken by letting agents.
By choosing a trusted referencing partner, with specialist knowledge and a long track record of service provision – we know we’re offering M A S O N S landlords a referencing service that is reliable and thorough.
2. The personal touch, with real attention to detail.
We particularly like how Hazelton Mountford’s core values of personal service, expertise, and integrity align closely with our approach to lettings. They offer a service with the all-important personal touch. For example, at the start of the referencing process, we pre-screen all tenant forms to ensure all the information is provided (often saving a lot of time)!
Once Hazelton Mountford receives a reference request, they complete a welcome call with prospective tenants to talk them through the process and answer any questions. Again, this personal touch often picks up any issues and helps to smooth the process for all parties.
3. Going the extra mile.
When Hazelton Mountford launched their referencing service in 2012, they spotted a need in the lettings market for a comprehensive checking process. Their process is designed to ensure checks are as watertight as possible. For example, Hazelton Mountford requests references from ALL landlords connected to prospective tenants in the last three years.
Why does this make a difference? Well, it avoids the potentially costly mistake of assuming current landlords are always 100% honest when they provide a reference. Think about it. If you had a problematic tenant and a new landlord approached you for a reference, would you want to put them off?
4. An integrated service for referencing and insurance.
Providing referencing services and insurance provision under one roof (at Hazelton Mountford) will bring key benefits to our landlords.
Hazelton Mountford offer a full range of insurance and risk management services with all policies being arranged via leading UK insurers. And, because they undertake referencing for our tenants, they are in a unique position to verify tenant eligibility and to back specific landlord insurance policies.
For example, M A S O N S can now offer managed landlords an innovative rent guarantee service, alongside property owners insurance.
The insurance cover provided is very competitive – with better terms, pricing, and scope of cover than our previous partners. Why not request a quote?
For M A S O N S tenants, this new partnership also enables us to offer a strong contents insurance package, as well as building and contents insurance tailored to suit the needs of landlords.
And finally…
If a landlord does need to make an insurance claim, then the specialist property claims team at Hazelton Mountford promises to make the claim process as smooth as possible. Hopefully, this service won’t be required – but it’s good to know that expert support is on-hand.
If you’re a landlord in Hertfordshire and you’d like to change-up either your tenant referencing process, or your property insurance package – why not drop us a line or request a quote to find out more about how Hazelton Mountford could work for you!
M A S O N S is a leading letting agent in Hitchin, covering rental and buy-to-let properties in Hertfordshire. Founded on award-winning lettings experience, we specialize in property management, buy-to-let in Hertfordshire, and residential lettings – drop us a line at [email protected] or call us on 01462 557477.
Please note: this article should not be interpreted as legal or financial advice.
