Question 1

Do I have to use all of Red Cardinal's services?

Accepted Answer

No. Most clients engage us on sourcing first and add lettings management at completion. Mortgage broker introductions, conveyancing, snagging, furniture packs and resale services are opt-in and priced separately. Around 70% of our 2024 sourcing clients opted into lettings; 35% used the mortgage broker introduction; 25% added a snagging report at completion.

Question 2

What does Red Cardinal's sourcing fee cover?

Accepted Answer

Sourcing covers: a 20-minute discovery call, a 5-page client brief, three to five live developments shortlisted to your goals, written investment briefs on each, allocation reservation, reservation paperwork, exchange-to-completion coordination with your solicitor and lender, and a completion-day handover document. On 95% of our work, the sourcing fee is paid by the developer; the remaining 5% is bespoke sourcing of resale or off-market completed stock with a fixed fee from £4,500.

Question 3

What does the lettings management service include?

Accepted Answer

Full lettings management at 10% of rent + VAT covers: marketing and listing, professional photography, viewings, reference and Right to Rent checks, AST drafting, deposit protection (DPS), monthly rent collection, statement and remittance, gas and electrical compliance scheduling, day-to-day maintenance instructions up to a £200 limit, annual condition report, tenancy renewals, and check-out inspection. Tenant-find only is 7% of one year's rent (one-off).

Question 4

Can Red Cardinal help me sell my UK investment property?

Accepted Answer

Yes, via our off-market resale service. We list to our private investor list (424+ active investors) for the first 14 days before going to public portals. Sourcing fee structure on resale is typically 1.5% of sale price with no upfront, payable on completion. For developer-side bulk resale on completed stock, terms are bespoke.

Question 5

How does the mortgage broker introduction work?

Accepted Answer

We introduce you to the BTL whole-of-market broker panel we use for our own clients. The broker is paid by the lender (procuration fee) and may charge you a separate broker fee, typically £495-£995, disclosed in writing on their engagement letter. We take no referral fee from the broker. Around 80% of our introductions secure a mortgage offer within 4-6 weeks.

Question 6

Do you offer property management for portfolios I bought elsewhere?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We onboard externally-purchased UK properties into our lettings management at the same 10% + VAT rate. Onboarding includes a stock condition report, lease and ground rent review, gas and electrical compliance audit, tenancy migration if a tenant is in situ, and a written hand-over from the previous agent. Minimum portfolio size for external onboarding is two properties.

Question 7

What is the typical client engagement timeline?

Accepted Answer

Discovery call (20 min), brief built (24 hours), shortlist delivered (3-7 days), second consultation (45 min) with three live opportunities, reservation (within 7 days of decision), exchange (28 days), completion (varies by scheme stage). After completion we hand over to lettings (typically tenanted within 2-3 weeks for regional 1-bed apartments), then move to quarterly portfolio reviews indefinitely.

Full-service UK property investment, end to end.

Property Sourcing

Lettings & Management

Furniture Packs

Mortgage Introductions

Conveyancing

Snagging & Inspections

Resales & Exit Strategy

Aftercare

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