Property Management Help Guide for Landlords
Before a property can be let, there are several matters which the owner will need to deal with to ensure that the tenancy runs smoothly, and also that he/she complies with the law. If you require further advice or assistance with any matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Mortgage
If your property is mortgaged, you should obtain your lenders written consent to the letting. They may require additional clauses in the tenancy agreement of which you must inform us..
Sub-letting
Sub letting is prohibited in all properties unless agreed with the landlord.
Insurance
You should ensure that you are suitably covered for letting under both your buildings and contents insurance. Failure to inform your insurers may invalidate your policies. We can send you information on Landlord’s Legal Protection, and Landlord’s Contents insurance if required.
Bills and regular outgoings
We recommend that you arrange for regular outgoings e.g. mortgage, service charges, maintenance contracts etc. to be paid by standing order or direct debit.
Council tax
Council tax is the responsibility of the occupier. You should inform your local collection office that you are leaving the property. During vacant periods the charge reverts to the owner.
The inventory
It is most important that an inventory of contents and schedule of condition be prepared, in order to avoid misunderstanding or dispute at the end of a tenancy. Without such safeguards, it will be impossible for the landlord to prove any loss, damage, or significant deterioration of the property or contents. As part of our service we will carry out a detailed moving in inspection complete with photos & meter readings, if your property is managed we will also complete a moving out inspection at the end of the tenancy.
Income tax
When the landlord is resident in the UK, it is entirely his responsibility to inform the Inland Revenue of rental income received, and to pay any tax due. However, where the landlord is resident outside the UK during a tenancy, under rules effective from 6 April 1996, unless an exemption certificate is held, we as landlord’s agents are obliged to retain and forward to the Inland Revenue on a quarterly basis, an amount equal to the basic rate of income tax from rental received, less certain expenses. An application form for exemption from such deductions is available from the Inland Revenue. Further information available on the following links
Important safety regulations
The following safety requirements are the responsibility of the owner (the landlord), and where we are to manage the property, they are also ours as agents. Therefore to protect all interests we ensure full compliance with the appropriate regulations, at the owner’s expense.
Gas Appliances & Equipment
Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, all gas appliances in tenanted premises must be checked for safety at intervals of not more than 12 months, by a GAS SAFE registered gas engineer, and a safety certificate issued, a copy of which must be handed to the tenant. Records must be kept of the dates of inspections, of defects identified, and of any remedial action taken. CO detectors must be present and have a date written on them.
Electrical Appliances & Equipment
Under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, the Plugs & Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994, electrical installations and equipment in tenanted premises must be safe. Since 1 December 2015 all rental properties must supply an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) This lasts for five years.
All properties must also be fitted with hard wired smoke detectors in the Hall and Living areas. The Kitchen must have a hard wired heat detector. Wireless systems are also acceptable. Your electrician will be able to give you the latest updates on regulation.
Furniture, Furnishings & Fire Safety
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989, 1993 & 1996) provide that specified items supplied in the course of letting property must meet minimum fire resistant standards. The regulations apply to all upholstered furniture, and beds, headboards and mattresses, sofa-beds, futons and other convertibles, nursery furniture, garden furniture suitable for use in a dwelling, scatter cushions, pillows, and non-original covers for furniture. They do not apply to antique furniture or furniture made before 1950, bed clothes including duvets, loose covers for mattresses, pillowcases, curtains, carpets or sleeping bags. Therefore all relevant items as above must be checked for compliance, and non-compliant items removed from the premises. In practice, most (but not all) items which comply must have a suitable permanent label attached. Items purchased since 1.3.90 from a reputable supplier are also likely to comply.
Energy Performance Certificates
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are needed whenever a property is rented.
We must receive an EPC for potential tenants before we can market your property to rent. We can advertise your property providing you have given us evidence the EPC is pending. An EPC contains: Information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs, recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money. An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years.
Landlord Registration
All Landlords in Scotland must be registered with a local authority. This should be done every three years. We cannot advertise your property unless you have applied or have an existing registration. Please follow the link below to register. Our Agent number is LARN2106004.
General Product Safety
The General Product Safety Regulations 1994 specify that any product supplied in the course of a commercial activity must be safe. In the case of letting, this would include both the structure of the building and its contents. Recommended action is to check for obvious danger signs – leaning walls, broken glass, sharp edges etc., and also to leave operating manuals or other written instructions about high risk items, such as hot surfaces, electric lawnmowers, etc. for the tenant.
Preparing the property for letting
We recommend that your property is presented in best possible light to attract better tenants. Ensure it is clean, tidy & if applicable the gardens are well maintained. This will reduce the length of time the property is void.
General condition
Electrical, gas, plumbing, waste, central heating and hot water systems must be safe, sound and in good working order. Repairs and maintenance are at the landlord’s expense unless misuse can be established.
Appliances
Similarly, appliances such as washing machine, fridge freezer, cooker, dishwasher etc. should be in usable condition. Repairs and maintenance are at the landlord’s expense unless misuse can be established.
Decorations
Interior decorations should be in good condition, and preferably plain, light and neutral.
Furnishings
It is recommended that you leave only minimum furnishings, and these should be of reasonable quality. It is preferable that items to be left are in the property during viewings. If you are letting unfurnished we recommend that the property contains carpets, blinds and a cooker.
Personal items, ornaments etc
Personal possessions, ornaments, pictures, books etc. should be removed from the premises, especially those of real or sentimental value. All cupboards and shelf space should be left clear for the tenant’s own use.
Gardens
Gardens should be left neat, tidy and rubbish-free, with any lawns cut. Tenants are required to maintain the gardens to a reasonable standard, provided they are left the necessary tools. However, few tenants are experienced gardeners, and if you value your garden, or if it is particularly large, you may wish to employ a gardener.
Cleaning
At the commencement of a tenancy the property must be in a thoroughly clean condition, and at the end of each tenancy it is the tenant’s responsibility to leave the property in similar condition. Where they fail to do so, cleaning will be arranged at their expense.
Mail forwarding
We recommend that you make use of the Post Office redirection service. Application forms are available at their counters, and the cost is minimal. It is not the tenant’s responsibility to forward mail.
Information for the tenant
It is helpful if you leave information for the tenant on operating the central heating and hot water system, washing machine and alarm system, and the day refuse is collected etc.
Keys
You should provide one set of keys for each tenant. Where we are managing we will arrange to have duplicates cut as required.
Tick List
- Check with Mortgage Lender/Change over
- Change Insurance
- Register as Landlord
- Energy Performance Certificate
- Register with HMRC
- Gas Safety Certificate
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
- Legionella Test
- Portable Appliance Test (PAT)
Simple Approach can help with many of these, please let us know if you need help
Need help with securing a Buy To Let Mortgage or Securing your current assets click HERE and let Simple Approach provide you with independent professional advice!
Letting Agent Registration Number LARN2106004
