Landlords

INTRODUCTION FOR LANDLORDS

Circa Residential Property provides a range of letting and management services based on the experience, skills and expertise of our lettings team. You can be assured that we have a detailed understanding of the lettings and management sector and will ensure that you are given the best possible service.

Over the last few years and, following the introduction of the 1988 Housing Act which offers greater protection and possession rights to Landlords, there has been resurgence in the lettings market.

People from all walks of life are looking to become involved in the rental market whether Investors, Companies, people who need to relocate with their work or homeowners who are having difficulty in selling their own properties. Increasingly, large numbers of people are entering the ‘Buy to Let’ sector as an opportunity for investment.

As a result, Landlords have come to expect extensive knowledge and expertise from the Agency they choose to act in their interests.

WHERE TO START?

1. After having made contact with the agents in your local area, choose an agent that you feel comfortable with who can offer professional expert advice, friendly service and competitive fees.

2. Having chosen your agent, you will be required to prepare you property for rental and below we list a few guidelines to assist you:

The rental market as with any other is competitive therefore, in order to obtain the best possible Tenants; you must present your property in the most effective way.

• Interior walls should be neutral colours and carpets plain
• Fabrics and Furnishings (if any) should be able to withstand reasonable wear and tear and be of suitable quality
• Animals and their odours should be eliminated
• The front door should be clean and the Entrance Hall clear of any obstructions as first impressions are important
• The entire property should be clean and well-aired and the garden tidy.
• If the weather is cold, heating should be turned on and, in warmer conditions, windows opened
• For any other advice contact your Agent

3. Other important considerations for Landlords before Letting

• Written consent must be obtained from your Mortgage Provider/Freeholder (if property is leasehold).
• Your Insurance Company must be notified that the property is to be rented out and appropriate insurance obtained for a tenanted property. There are specialist insurance companies who can provide this and we would be happy to assist you.
• An Energy Performance certificate must be obtained prior to the marketing of your property. A Landlords Gas Safety certificate (CP12) must also be obtained prior to any tenant moving into your property. (Both of these compulsory certificates can be organised and obtained by Circa Residential Property)
• The Inland Revenue must also be informed within 6 months of letting your property, flat or apartment in the UK and failure to do so will incur penalties, interest and other consequences. The Inland Revenue are apt to deal harshly with Landlords who do not declare rental income and it is always best to seek advice on tax planning and Capital Gains Tax from a fully qualified Accountant. 
• Mail should be redirected with the Post Office.
• Further copies of keys will need to be provided, at least two if you have Management Agents acting for you.
•  Utilities such as gas/electricity/water/telephone & Council Tax will have to be transferred to the successful Tenant.

An Inventory and Check In should be drawn up. This is an important legal document which forms an integral part of the Tenancy Agreement and, as such, it is a false economy to prepare your own in most cases.

The Inventory is required whether the property to let is furnished or unfurnished and accurate descriptions of the overall condition of wall/floor coverings, kitchen and bathroom fittings to name but a few are essential. Amounts cannot be withheld from the Tenant’s deposit unless the loss or damage is proved to have been caused by the Tenant.

In the event that any dispute concerning loss or damage to your property is not amicably resolved then the matter will be referred to the Courts and arbitration but should be noted that any judgement will be on the basis of written documentation – the Inventory.

4. TENANCY – The Housing Act 1988 (amended 1996) has given rise to two types of Tenancy: Assured and Assured Short hold Tenancy as well as the existing Company Tenancy and Contractual Tenancy.

A) ASSURED TENANCY

Certain criteria have to be satisfied for a tenancy to qualify for assured status. Assured Tenancy gives the Tenant security of tenure but at a market rent negotiated between the parties. The Landlord may request back possession of the property let on an Assured Tenancy but must obtain a COURT ORDER. This has its advantages but is not as flexible.

B) ASSURED SHORTHOLD TENANCY (AST)

This Tenancy is attractive to Landlords as it offers market rents without security of tenure beyond the contractual term and the majority of Tenancies are based on this format. However, certain criteria must first be met:

a) The Tenant must be an individual
b) The property must be the Tenant’s main residence/home
c) The rent cannot exceed £100,000 per annum
d) The Landlord must not occupy the same property

If the property is let under an Assured Short hold Tenancy, the Landlord can issue a Section 21 Notice to guarantee possession provided the term of the Short hold is expired and not less than two months notice has been given by the Landlord stating he requires possession. 
If court action is needed, this can be obtained on a number of different grounds against the Tenant.

However, it should be noted that is a criminal offence under the Protection from Evictions Act 1977, for a Landlord to threaten or forcibly evict a Tenant from their property.

C) COMPANY TENANCY

This is governed by contract law and is not regulated by the Housing Acts of 1988 or 1996. It is used when a Private or Public Limited Company (excluding partnership or sole trader) want to enter into a Tenancy.
There is no security of tenure and rental payments are often made on a quarterly basis by prior agreement.

D) CONTRACTUAL TENANCY

Contractual Tenancy also falls outside the provisions of the Housing Acts of 1988 and 1996 and is not regulated by statute. It is most commonly used where the rent exceeds £25,000 per annum and both parties have the freedom to contract as they choose, but must then rely solely on the provisions of that Agreement.

5. FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED -We would encourage Landlords to be flexible regarding the question of furnishing their property. Many tenants prefer to have furnisher to be provided by their Landlord. It has been found that a Tenant is likely to respect the property more if they have their own possessions. The difference between rent for furnished or unfurnished is negligible, but the Landlord remains responsible for the repair of replacement of any furnishings which become broken or worn (unless this was caused by a deliberate act of the Tenant – see Damage Deposits).

6. MARKETING/FINDING A TENANT – you will need to decide whether you require your agent to simply market your property and find a Tenant or whether you would prefer to engage the services of their Managing Agents.

Whether you chose to opt for a Managing Agent or not, Circa Residential Property as your Letting Agent will firstly provide colour property details and a rental valuation which will be based on the popularity of the area, proximity to transport, rental price of similar property handled and decorative condition to name but a few.

It is important to price your rent fairly but realistically in order to attract the most suitable Tenant.

Your rental property will be regularly advertised in the local press and publications dedicated to the letting industry as well as displayed in our offices and feature on our website and other sites such as Rightmove, Find a Property, Prime Location, Loot.com and UK Property Shop to ensure maximum exposure. We also contact any listed prospective Tenants, local companies and relocation agents.

Should you decide to employ us as your Managing Agent, we will also field calls, arrange viewings, vet prospective Tenants and obtain references, draw up contracts and advise you on your Safety and Repairs obligations (see LEGAL DUTY OF CARE).

7. FULL CREDIT CHECKING – thorough credit checks are carried out on all prospective Tenants as we can reserve the right to decline an application where necessary in the interests of protecting the Landlord’s investment.

8. REFERENCES – these can be obtained through us as your Managing Agent and include references from the Tenant’s employer and previous Landlord.
We can also provide you with/assist you in obtaining a linked insurance policy to safeguard your rental income and provide legal protection (RENT GUARANTEE).

9. DRAFTING OF TENANCY AGREEMENT/LEASES – the Lettings team at Circa Residential Property can prepare and supply you with all legal documentation and give practical general legal advice.

10. DAMAGE DEPOSITS – This is usually equivalent to 6 (Six) Weeks rent and is taken from the Tenant to be held in our Client Account until the end of the Tenancy. Upon vacation of your property, there will be a re-inspection and any refunds will be made within a maximum of 10 days, provided that there are no disputes and all utility accounts have been settled.

The costs of everyday repairs and maintenance are the responsibility of the Landlord but, if we are instructed to manage your property on your behalf, we will pay the contractor out of the Tenant’s rent. We can also organise quotes for approval on any major repair as this becomes apparent.

Under the LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT 1985, Landlords are responsible for repair of the structure and exterior of the property, together with installations for the supply of gas, electricity, water and sanitation.

Once a tenancy agreement has been agreed and entered into, if the property is not in a good state of repair  the Tenant has the right to insist that repairs are carried out and, in the event that the damage is serious, the Tenant will be entitled to consider the letting as terminated as the Landlord will be in breach of his obligations.

11. COLLECTION OF RENT – this is usually done on a calendar monthly basis and is forwarded to the Landlord via any previously approved method after any agreed deductions have been made for fees, contractors etc.

12. LEGAL DUTY OF CARE – Under common law, the Landlord must ensure that properties to let are safe and failure to comply with Safety Legislation is considered a criminal offence resulting in legal action and prosecution.

As your Managing Agent, we can carry out safety checks upon your request, deducting the cost from your rent.

1. Gas – (The Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1994 (amended 1998) – the Landlord must maintain gas installations and all gas appliances through annual inspections and safety checks carried out by a GAS SAFE registered engineer and a copy of the Current Inspection Certificate must be left at the property.
2. Electricity  - (The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 & Electricity at Works Regulations 1989-  the Landlord must ensure that all mains voltage household electrical appliances and equipment is tested and safe to use. Any non-repairable items must be replaced and removed. 
All operating instructions must be left in the property for the Tenant’s benefit.
3. Furniture and Furnishings – The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety)Regulations 1988 (amended 1989 & 1993)  - Soft furnishings (such as mattresses, settees, bed bases, cushions and padded headboards) must meet fire resistance standards and bear a permanent  label confirming this. If compliance cannot be proved, the item must be removed and replaced.
4. Smoke Detectors – whilst only properties built after 1992 legally require the fitting of smoke detectors (Building Regulation 1991), we would strongly recommend that smoke detectors are fitted to each floor of the property being let.

NB: The penalty for failure to comply with statutory safety legislation is currently a maximum of £5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment for each offence. This can be harsher in the case of injury or fatality.

The above is only a guide to the legal safety requirements and should you have any further enquiries, we would recommend that you contact a qualified solicitor who will be able to verify these in full.

13. OVERSEAS LANDLORDS – you are considered an overseas Landlord if you live abroad or go to work abroad for lengthy periods of time.

It is important to firstly note that Inland Revenue regulations apply even if you are a non-UK resident. Moreover, non-resident Landlords must apply to the Inland Revenue Financial Intermediaries Claims Office (FICO) for authorisation (by way of an exemption certificate) to receive payment of property rental “gross”, that is without deduction of Income Tax by the letting agent or Tenant as required by law.

NB: The above is merely a guideline and for fully qualified advice, you should contact an appropriate Accountant or Tax Expert.

BRIEF GUIDE TO SERVICES:

• Advice on letting your property
• Rental evaluation, provision of property details with colour photographs
• Advertising of your rental property in local publications/on our website and many other internet portals  
• Accompanied viewings and finding of a suitable Tenant
• Status enquiries/reference and credit check of prospective Tenants
• Obtaining security deposit/rent guarantee 
• Obtaining competitive quotes for insurance
• Organising/preparing the Inventory and Check-In (additional charge)
• Preparing Tenancy Agreement and Legal Notices
• Arranging transfer of Utilities to Tenant’s name and establishing Council Tax and Water Rates in Tenant’s name
• Advising on compliance with Safety Regulations for Gas/Electricity supplies etc.
• Collecting monthly rental payments and providing monthly accounting to Landlords
• Arranging annual gas safety checks (chargeable)
• Periodic inspection of the property and reporting of any problems
• Obtaining competitive quotations and, upon approval, arranging for necessary repairs/maintenance to be carried out
• Contacting the Tenant and arranging for renewals and/or check-out as necessary