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Developer FAQs
Developer questions, answered plainly.
Including the ones that do not flatter us. If something here is not clear, call and ask — we would rather answer it now than have it surface after heads of terms.
Tell Us About It
Send us the scheme.
Unit count, location, completion date and what you need to happen. We will come back with whether it is something we can take, what shape the agreement would be, and an honest answer if it is not for us.
- No fee to talk to us and nothing to sign to get an answer
- A straight yes or no on whether it fits — we would rather decline early than waste your programme
- Terms agreed in writing before either side commits to anything
Prefer to talk? 02477 450677 or WhatsApp us — Mon–Fri 9–6, Sat 10–2.
Your Questions
Everything developers ask us.
What is a company let, and how is it different from an AST?
A company let is a tenancy granted to a limited company rather than to an individual. Maine Property Solutions Ltd becomes your tenant and carries the rent obligation under the agreement. It is not an assured shorthold tenancy, so the residential AST regime and its deposit rules do not apply in the same way. Your solicitor should review any agreement before you sign it, and we would expect them to.
Do you still pay if the unit is empty?
Yes. That is the entire point of the arrangement: the rent is a fixed monthly sum payable under the agreement whether or not anyone is staying in the property. The void risk moves to us. In exchange, the rent is set below what a unit might achieve in its best month on the open market.
What happens when the unit finally sells?
That is agreed at the start, not argued about afterwards. Developer agreements normally carry a break clause so you can recover vacant possession for a sale on an agreed notice period. Tell us your expected sales window up front and we will size the term around it rather than tying up a unit you need back.
How quickly can you take a unit on?
Once terms are agreed and the property is complete and compliant, we move quickly. The gating item is almost never us. It is usually the EPC, the electrical certificate or the gas safety record arriving.
Do you take units anywhere in the UK?
We will look at any UK scheme. Be aware we are a small company operating two of our own properties today, so a large block will get a more cautious answer than a single unit, and we would rather say that on the first call than three weeks into your programme.
Are you VAT registered?
Maine Property Solutions Ltd is not VAT registered, so our invoices carry no VAT. VAT treatment of property leases depends on the tenure and on whether an option to tax is in place, so take your own advice on how that sits with your recovery position.
Do you buy unsold units?
No. We take property on a lease and pay rent; we are not a cash buyer and we do not make offers on completed stock. We do keep a list of investors who buy value-add property, so if you have something that needs work rather than something finished, you can send it to us and we will see whether it fits anyone.
What can you not do?
We are not a sales agent and we do not market units for sale. We are not a cash buyer and we do not make offers on completed stock. We are not block managers, so running communal areas and service charge for a freeholder is not our appointment. And we are not a large company, which matters most on large schemes.
Who is responsible for gas, electrical and fire safety?
A lease does not make an owner's safety duties disappear, and we will not pretend it does. Which obligations sit with you and which sit with us gets written into the agreement before anyone signs, and both solicitors should look at that clause specifically.
Will you sign a non-disclosure agreement?
Yes, without fuss, if you want one before sending scheme details.