Preparation for Letting your Property
There are a number of steps you should take to prepare for your letting. These include:
The Legal Aspects - if the property is under mortgage, consent for letting will be needed from your lender and, if the property is leasehold, the superior landlord’s consent may also be required. We will ask you for copies of these ’consents’ when you instruct us so that we can ensure that any related conditions are met.
Letting Terms - you will need to tell us for how long the property may be let and we will discuss with you the type of tenants you would prefer, with any special restrictions you may wish to establish. We will also advise you on rent, the security deposit, and the payment of utility bills during the tenancy.
A decision will be needed on the state of furnishing at the property for the tenancy. There is more demand for properties which only have minimal furnishings (generally just carpets, curtains, a cooker and fixtures and fittings) than for fully furnished homes. However, the degree of furnishing does not affect your ability to regain possession of the property, as was the case some years ago.
The Tenancy Agreement - in preparing the agreement for your letting our aim will be to fully protect your interests under the current legislation and to ensure that all your specific requirements are met. We will explain the various types of tenancy arrangements which are available, and advise you on the most suitable for your circumstances.
For some tenancies, stamp duty will be payable on the tenancy agreement and it is important that this is carried out to fully protect your interests in the event of any dispute. We will arrange this for you.
The Property Itself - the letting market is competitive and to achieve a good rent, the property should be as well prepared as possible. Tenants are attracted by an appealing appearance inside and out and will expect all the facilities to work properly. In short, the whole property should be in good condition and a tenant will be quite justified in asking for any faults to be put right.
Neutral decor schemes are preferable to bright colours as these blend with most items of tenants’ furniture. It is also important that the property is thoroughly cleaned immediately before it is let.
We will ask you for details of the operation of all the utility services and the current suppliers you use, so that we can prepare notes for the tenants on all these points. It is also a legal requirement that instruction booklets are provided for any electrical and gas appliances provided at the property, so please ensure that these are available.
Furniture Fire Regulations - Any soft furnishings left at the property are required to meet the current regulations on fire resistance. In practice this means that beds, settees and other furniture with a fabric covering and/or internal foam padding must have been purchased since1989. Most items will be labelled to this effect.
Gas Safety Checks - There are also regulations which require the gas installation and appliances in all rented residential properties to be inspected annually for safety. We can arrange for the safety check to be carried out for you by a fully qualified gas engineer at a very reasonable cost or you may wish to have your usual gas engineer to do this and provide us with a copy of the safety certificate.
Electrical Safety - An electrical safety check is not essential provided the electrical installation is modern and in good condition - we will discuss the detailed requirements with you and advise whether a check should be carried out.
General - We recognise that every property is different and every landlord has a unique set of requirements. When we visit you we will take detailed notes of your instructions, make sure that all relevant points are covered and that you are given detailed information and advice on the letting of the property.