Information for Landlords
| If you currently own or intend to purchase residential property for rental in the Heathrow and surrounding areas, you may like to consider our Property Management Service. You will find that we have a very Professional approach and are dedicated to ensuring the maximum return for your investment. As we are specialists in the letting field, we know how to ensure smooth running tenancies and compliance with the various landlord/tenants laws. Maximise the return on your investment - contact us now. If your interests are outside this particular area, please visit our UK Network page for further assistance. |
Our Service includes - |
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| Our Fees: |
| Management Our initial letting charge is 1 week rent of the first months rental, our ongoing Management commission is 10% - 15% of subsequent rental payments, depending on specific instructions. We make an administration fee of 1 week's rental for each renewal on an existing agreement. There are no hidden charges, standing charges or 'up front 'charges - nothing to pay until a Tenant moves into the property and starts to make rental payments. VAT payments are not applicable at this time. |
| Letting/Introductory Our initial letting charge is 2/3 weeks rent, as appropriate (approx 7.5%) of the first months rental. VAT payments are not applicable at this time. |
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| Mortgage If your property is mortgaged, you should obtain written consent to the letting from the Company/Building Society holding your mortgage. 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 the Landlord's written permission. 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. 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 the local collection office of your intention to let. During vacant periods, the charge reverts to the owner. When unoccupied but furnished, the charge is 50% of the current rate, however, when unoccupied and substantially 'unfurnished', there is no charge for the first six months, but thereafter a charge of 50% of the normal rate will apply. The inventory It is most important that an inventory of contents and schedule of condition is prepared in order to avoid misunderstandings or disputes at the end of the tenancy. Without this safeguard, it will be impossible for you, the Landlord, to prove any loss, damage or significant deterioration of the property or contents. In order to provide a complete service, we will if requested prepare an inventory and schedule of condition at a cost to be quoted. Income tax When resident in the UK, it is entirely the Landlords responsibility to inform the Inland Revenue of rental income received, and to pay any tax due. 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 Agent 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. The following requirements are the responsibility of the owner (Landlord). 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. Health and Safety - Gas Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 all gas appliances and flues in rented accommodation must be checked for safety within 12 months of installation and thereafter every 12 months, by a CORGI registered gas engineer who will issue the required certificate. Full records must be kept for at least 2 years of the inspections of each appliance and flue, of any defects found and of any remedial action taken. A copy of the safety certificate issued by the engineer must be given to each new tenant before their tenancy commences, or to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being carried out. Health and Safety - Electrical Under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, and certain other regulations, electrical appliances and equipment provided in tenanted premises must be safe. Although (unlike Gas) a safety certificate is not yet required by law, it is recommended that a qualified Electrician be engaged for the purpose of conducting a visual check to ensure that all electrical items, plugs and leads appear completely safe and undamaged, and remove or replace any faulty items. 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 resistance standards. The regulations apply to all upholstered furniture, 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, bedcovers 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 before the tenancy commences. 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. Smoke Alarms All properties built since June 1992 must have been fitted with mains powered smoke detector alarms from new. Although there is no legislation requiring smoke alarms to be fitted in other ordinary tenanted properties, it is generally considered that the common law 'duty of care' means that Landlords and their Agents could be liable should a fire cause injury or damage in a tenanted property where smoke alarms are not fitted. We therefore strongly recommend that the Landlord fit at least one alarm on each floor (in the hall and landing areas). 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. also leave operating manuals or other written instructions for high-risk items such as boilers, hot surfaces, lawn mowers etc for the tenants use. We have found that a good relationship with the tenants is the key to a smooth-running tenancy. As Property Managers, the relationship is part of our service because we know how important it is for tenants to feel comfortable in their temporary home. Our policy of offering a service of quality and care therefore extends to our tenant applicants and we always attempt to recommend properties that 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 is the responsibility of the Landlord and at his expense, unless misuse can be established. Appliances Similarly, appliances such as washing machine, fridge-freezer, cooker, dishwasher etc should be in good usable condition at the start of the tenancy and again repairs and maintenance are the responsibility of the Landlord and at his expense, unless misuse can be established. Decorations Interior decoration s should be in good condition, preferably plain, light and neutral. Furnishings It is recommended that you leave only minimum furnishings; these should be of a reasonable quality and should be left in the property ready for viewings. If you wish to let unfurnished, we recommend that the property contain the essential white goods together with curtains and floor coverings. Personal items, ornaments etc Personal possessions, ornaments, books etc. should be removed from the premises, especially those of real or sentimental value. Items may be boxed and stored in the loft space at the owners risk, but this is not recommended. All cupboards and shelf space should be left clear for the tenant's own use. Gardens Gardens should be left neat and tidy, lawns should be cut and rubbish cleared. Tenants are required to maintain the garden to a reasonable standard providing they are left the appropriate tools, however, few tenants are experienced gardeners and if you value your garden, or if it is particularly large, you may wish to arrange maintenance visits by a regular gardener. Cleaning At the commencement of the tenancy, the property must be in a thoroughly clean condition. At the end of the term, it will be the responsibility of the tenants to leave the property in the same condition, Where they fail to do so, cleaning should be arranged at their expense, thus leaving the property ready for the next occupants. Mail forwarding We recommend that you make use of the Post Office redirection services. Application forms are available at their counters and the coat is minimal. It is not the tenant's responsibility to forward mail. Information for the tenant As previously suggested, instruction manuals for the most common appliances are always useful and the day and time of refuse collection is essential. Keys One set of keys should be supplied for each tenant, where we are managing the property, we will arrange for duplicate keys to be cut if required as well as holding a set in our office. |
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