A MODERN LETTING AGENT WITH TRADITIONAL VALUES
“Loveitts
residential and lettings management team can help you safeguard your property investment and ensure that with our professional expertise and experience in the industry, best advice is given. Use Loveitts collective experience to ensure you maximise returns on your property investment.”
What is required of me as a Landlord?
Landlords are required to fulfil a number of legal responsibilities, including meeting safety standards which include:
• a smoke alarm must be installed on each floor of the property.
• carbon monoxide detectors must be placed in rooms with a coal fire or wood burning stove.
• a gas safety certificate for each gas appliance must be available inside the property.
• to reduce risk of fire, all furniture must meet safety standards and display the appropriate labels.
• any electrical devices must be safe for use, and we recommend an Installation Survey or Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) so you can be sure you are compliant.
• the water supply must be working properly to protect tenants form Legionella.
• An EICR (Electrical Safety Certificate) is now required with no Category 1 or Category 2 issues mentioned.
A Housing, Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) allows local authorities to assess the condition of a property and any potential hazards. The aim is to maintain good standards in the private rented section. Loveitts can help you understand how this legislation may apply to your own property.
Paul Barnes Lettings Director
Energy
Performance Certificate
As a Landlord you will need to purchase an EPC for a property before you let it. From 1st April 2018, it became compulsory for the property to have a minimum rating of E on its EPC as it would be unlawful to rent any property which breaches this requirement with a penalty of up to £4,000. Loveitts can arrange an EPC on your behalf and they are valid for 10 years.
Right to Rent
Landlords have a responsibility to restrict illegal immigrants accessing the private rented sector and so must check that a tenant legally has a ‘Right to Rent’ in the UK If a landlord does rent out a property to a tenant who does not have the right to rent, the penalty is an unlimited fine and up to 5 years in prison. (There are some tenants who you don't have to check but this depends on types of accommodation). Loveitts undertake these checks at referencing stage.
Information for your tenant
Your tenant must be provided with the landlord’s full name and address, or details of their letting agent. Your tenant must also receive a copy of the Government’s How to Rent guide which gives practical advice about what to do before and during a let.
Repairs
Landlords are responsible for most repairs to the exterior or structure of a property. This means that any problems with the roof, chimneys, walls, guttering and drains are the responsibility of the landlord. These could include a cracked window, a faulty boiler, leak in the kitchen or a leaky seal in the window. Landlords are also responsible for keeping the equipment for supplying water, gas and electricity in safe working order.
Loveitts are available to manage all repairs and provide communication to you whilst always looking at the landlords best interest.
Protecting a tenant's deposit
Most tenancies are assured shorthold tenancies (AST) and as a landlord you must protect the tenancy deposit with a UK government-approved deposit protection scheme
The landlord of an AST who doesn’t protect the deposit can be fined and it can make it much more difficult to end the tenancy.
Deposits must be returned in full at the end of the tenancy, unless there is a dispute about damage caused to the property or unpaid rent. Loveitts can deal with these complicated matters for you depending on what service level is requested.
SAccessing the property
As a landlord it is inevitable that you will need to access the property from time to time to carry out repairs and inspections. However, access should not cause unnecessary interference to your tenant.
Give reasonable notice and arrange a suitable time with yourself and the tenant, the notice period is usually set out in your tenancy agreement. Loveitts can advise of your access rights.
Tenancy Deposit Scheme
LOVEITTS – SUPPORTING CHARITY AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
In the past few years
and nationally including:
