Writings for Landlords
There are currently over 160 Government statutes and regulations – and more in the pipeline – that landlords need to adhere to in order to be compliant and provide a safe home for tenants.
All private landlords rely on their tenants paying the rent on time. No surprise there. A regular cash flow is essential for any business but especially when you have mortgages to pay. Avoiding tenant’s who could end up not paying the rent is something every landlord looks for. Easier said than done of course.
The Government’s How to Rent guide has been updated, just two weeks after the previous update.
Your tenant has reported a leaking tap. No problem. You tell them you will be round within the hour. You will personally fix the property. “Great. But, you’ll have to take us as you find us,” laughs the tenant.
Welcome to another in our series of interviews where we interview property professionals and commentators to get their insights into being a successful landlord.
The housing, communities and local government secretary, James Brokenshire, in a consultation paper to published earlier this month, is exploring the option of making tenancies last for a minimum of three years. There are also calls from lobbyist groups, including Generation Rent, to scrap Section 21 evictions.
If you’re a new private landlord or just about to take the plunge into letting properties we’ve prepared a checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything when you welcome your first tenant.
As a private landlord, you must have a tenancy agreement for your assured shorthold rental. The contract between yourself and your tenant spells out the duties and responsibilities of each party. A clear and concise tenancy agreement can prevent, or at least reduce the likelihood, of disputes during and after the tenancy. Make sure you include everything you can think off so the tenant (and yourself) is aware of what they can and cannot do.
As a private landlord, it’s your responsibility to ensure your property is safe. That it’s in good repair and fit to live in. If the property is damaged or in need of repair it’s you and not the tenant who must carry out the repairs. Whether it’s fixing a sink or something far more serious like fire damage.
In the current market, tenants are struggling to find an appropriate property at their price point and within their timeframe. Rental fraud thrives in these desperate conditions as tenants are more willing to let their guard down and fail to ask the relevant questions for fear of losing out on a would-be deal.
