Letting Guide
It is important that you seek permission from your mortgage provider to let out your property prior to marketing the same.
There are lots of letting agents on the High Street and online, however how do you know which to choose? Boydens are members of the ARLA PropertyMark and are professionally trained and meet strict codes of conduct including the legally required redress scheme and client money protection.
Even if you know the rent you wish to charge, it is always prudent to secure a free valuation to check what the market is doing as it can change very quickly. Contact our staff at your local office to secure a FREE no obligation valuation. We will advise you of what the local market is doing and how best to market your property to secure a quick and productive tenancy. We can also talk you through the different services that we provide to find the best one that suits your needs.
The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) came into force in England and Wales on 1 April 2018, and applies to private rented residential and non-domestic property and is aimed at encouraging landlords and property owners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties by a restriction on the granting and continuation of existing tenancies where the property has an Energy Performance Certificate Rating of F and G. Boydens can assist and provide guidance if required.
Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, states that a landlord must have a valid gas safety certificate in place throughout the duration of the tenancy. The safety check must be carried out on an annual basis by a Gas Safe accredited engineer.
Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 requires all landlords to have in place a satisfied Electrical Installation Condition Report before a tenancy can be offered to a new or existing tenant.
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 require private sector landlords to install at least one smoke alarm on each floor of the property, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance, with effect from 1st October 2015.
All prospective tenants are required to undergo referencing to confirm their financial position and their right to rent. Once completed Boydens will secure a date for commencement of the tenancy.
A well-presented and clean property is more likely to be looked after by the tenant. If possible, arrange for the property to be professionally cleaned which will then set the standard from the start of the tenancy. Now is also the time to attend to those small maintenance jobs such as loose cupboard doors or dripping taps for example.
It is important an inventory and schedule of condition is compiled before the commencement of the tenancy and a copy handed to the tenant at move in. The inventory will provide details of the condition of the property and any fixtures and fittings remaining, along with photographs showing the same. Even if you have an unfurnished property, an inventory must be completed to protect your position. In the absence of an inventory, the landlord could very easily jeopardise any claim against the tenant’s deposit.
Ensure that you have collected the first months rent and deposit, and that the location of the deposit is noted on the tenancy agreement which should be signed by all tenants. Ideally you would hand your tenants a set of keys each, however this is not a legal requirement. It is important to contact the utility providers to ensure that they are aware of the new tenants and your liability on the run up to the commencement of the tenancy.
It is important that you are requirements under the deregulation act 2015 are met therefore ensuring that the tenant has been handed a copy of the valid gas safety certificate and current EPC prior to the commencing their tenancy and that you have signed confirmation of their receipt of these documents. This will avoid issues later in the tenancy should you require possession of the property.
Being a landlord can be challenging with expectations increasing, driven in many cases by the requirements of new legislation. Our most popular Fully Managed Service allows landlords to rest assured that they will remain compliant in all aspects as professionally trained Boydens staff deal with the day to day requirements to the property. Through our diligence and expertise, we protect our landlords against fees of up to £100k which could be incurred from minor to major breaches of current regulations. You can then relax and enjoy the benefits of being a Boydens landlord.
