Landlords Info
If you currently own or intend to purchase residential property for
rental in Yorkshire, you should consider engaging our property management
service. You'll find it both professional and cost-effective. As we are
specialists, we know how to manage property for optimum performance, whilst
ensuring smooth running tenancies, and compliance with the various
landlord/tenant laws. Maximise the return on your investment - contact us now. If you own or intend
purchasing residential property for rental in any other area, please go to
our UK Network page.
Our Services include:
1.
Visiting you at your property, and providing a rental
valuation and any other advice which you may require about letting your
property.
2.
Advising you on compliance with the various safety
regulations.
3.
Locating suitable tenants. Your property will be advertised
if necessary, however we have excellent contacts with various company and
other establishment personnel departments, and furthermore usually have
tenants waiting.
4.
Accompanying tenant applicants to view the property.
5.
Obtaining and evaluating references and credit checks.
6.
Preparing a suitable tenancy agreement and arranging
signature by the tenant.
7.
Collecting and holding as stakeholders a deposit (bond) from
the tenant.
8.
Preparing an inventory and schedule of condition.
9.
Checking the tenant into the property and agreeing the
inventory.
10.
Supervising the transfer of gas, electricity and council tax
accounts into the tenant's name.
11.
Receiving rental payments monthly in advance, and paying you
promptly, together with a detailed statement from our computerised
management systems.
12.
If required paying regular outgoings for you from rental
payments.
13.
Inspecting the property periodically, and reporting any
problems to you.
14.
Arranging any necessary repairs or maintenance, first
liaising with you in the case of larger works.
15.
Keeping in touch with the tenant on a routine basis, and
arranging renewals of the agreement as necessary.
16.
Checking tenants out as required, reletting and continuing
the process with the minimum of vacant periods to ensure that you receive
the optimum return from your property.
We maintain a flexible attitude, and are generally able to adapt our
service to meet our client's individual circumstances and needs, for
example by providing a part only service, or alternatively by taking on
additional tasks and duties.
Our Fees
Our initial letting and advertising charge is FREE and our ongoing
management commission is only 10% of monthly rental payments. There
are no other standard fees or charges. No up front charges - nothing to pay
until a tenant moves in and starts paying rent.
< top
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. For brief details of a subject click on
a blue link below, or scroll down the page. 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 mortgagee's written consent
to the letting. They may require additional clauses in the tenancy
agreement of which you must inform us.
Leaseholds
If you are a leaseholder, you should check the terms of your lease, and
obtain the necessary written consent before letting.
Sub-letting
If you are a tenant yourself, you will require your landlord's consent.
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.
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. However, where we are Managing the property, by prior written
agreement we may make payment of certain bills on your behalf, provided
such bills are received in your name at our office, and that sufficient
funds are held to your credit.
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. When unoccupied but furnished, the
charge is 50% of the normal rate. When unoccupied and 'substantially'
unfurnished, there is no charge for the first six months, and thereafter a
charge of 50% of the normal rate.
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. In order to provide a complete service to the landlord, we will
if requested arrange for a member of staff to prepare an inventory and
schedule of condition, at a cost to be quoted.
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 new 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 this
Agency, and further information may be obtained from the Inland Revenue.
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 1994 (amended 1996)
and some other regulations, all gas appliances in tenanted premises must be
checked for safety at intervals of not more than 12 months, by a CORGI
registered gas engineer, and a safety certificate issued. Records must be
kept of the dates of inspections, of defects identified, and of any
remedial action taken.
Electrical Appliances
& Equipment
Under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, the Plugs &
Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and some other regulations,
electrical installations and equipment in tenanted premises must be safe.
Although (unlike gas) no safety certificate is legally required, and
therefore it may be adequate to perform a visual check of electrical
equipment, fittings and leads, it is recommended that a qualified
electrician be engaged for this purpose.
Furniture & Furnishings
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.
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 have found from experience that a good relationship with tenants is the
key to a smooth-running tenancy. As Property Managers the relationship part
is our job, but it is important that the tenants should feel comfortable in
their temporary home, and that they are receiving value for their money.
This is your job. Our policy of offering a service of quality and care
therefore extends to our tenant applicants too, and we are pleased to
recommend properties to rent which conform to certain minimum standards.
Quality properties attract quality tenants.
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, curtains, 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. Some
items may be boxed, sealed and stored in the loft at the owner's risk. 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 us to arrange maintenance visits by our
regular 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 should 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.
< top
|
Member of The UK Association
of Letting Agents.