FACT
FILE - HOW
DO I LET MY PROPERTY
See
also
How
to present your rental property for letting Click
Here
How
not to present your rental property for letting Click
Here
Buy
to Let UK Click Here
Buy
to Let Europe Click Here
Landlords
letting advice and information Click
Here
Condensation
Problems Click
Here
Tenancy
Deposit Protection Scheme -TDS Click
Here
Energy
Performance Certificates Click
Here
Property
News - Click
Here
There are several ways to let a property:
-
Advertise
it yourself in the local paper
-
Advertise
on the Internet
-
Advertise
in local shops
-
Instruct
a professional Letting Agent
If
you are instructing an agent consider using one that is a
member of one of the following professional organisations:
-
ARLA
(Association of Residential Letting Agents)
-
NALS
(National Approved Letting scheme)
-
NAEA
(National Association of Estate Agents)
-
RICS
(Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)
If
the letting goes wrong or there are problems receiving your
rent, in many cases if you use an agent that belongs to one
of these organisations you can take the issue up with the
relevant governing body. Tenants often feel more confident
renting a property through an agent that belongs to a professional
association.
Alternatively
you might want to let it yourself and join a Landlords Association
Landlords
Associations
NLA
- National Landlords Association - The National Landlords
Association (NLA) is the leading independent national organisation
for private residential landlords. Established in 1973 as
The Small Landlords Association founded to support residential
landlords, and lobby local and national government. In 2003
Renamed the National Landlords Association. By 2007 Membership
continues to grow – now over 13,000 fee-paying members. Further
information Here
 NFRL
- The National Federation of Residential Landlords - The
National Federation of Residential Landlords (NFRL) is a not
for profit organisation representing good residential landlords
throughout the UK. It was formerly the Southern Private Landlords
Association and is organised into a network of 12 Regions.
Further information Here
PRESENTING THE PROPERTY – decoration , furnishing,
equipment to leave
DECORATION - The quality of the interior decoration
may substantially affect the level of rental achieved.
Although
it is not possible to redecorate your own personal home prior
to letting it if you are leaving for work overseas for example,
it is essential that you follow these guidelines if you are
planning on letting an investment property. It is advisable
to follow them as far as possible if you are a returning owner
occupier.
Carpets and walls should be neutral. Whites, creams
and light pastel shades and these make a cleaner, fresher
impression.
Paint finishes are much easier to maintain than wallpaper.
Good quality curtains and carpets should be provided as they
will have much longer life normally which is most important
if you are planning on letting for several years. Magnolia
has now become very dated and should be avoided if possible.
Kitchens should be well equipped (see follow on
section WHAT TO LEAVE) and bathrooms should have high
quality modern fittings, including a power shower whenever
possible (overseas visitors will usually expect one), good
lighting and tiled flooring. If you are refitting your bathrooms,
white fittings never really go out of date.
Wood flooring is now very popular and gives the illusion
of more space. Kitchens should be tiled or have vinyl covering
and not carpets unless they form part of a kitchen /diner
and the carpet is then suitable for the dining area.
If
you are installing wood flooring in an apartment, please check
with the freeholder if it is a new development, as they are
not permitted in some developments because of the noise factor.
Lighting is very important for any let. Downlight
spotlights in Kitchens, bathrooms and other areas help. In
furnished properties, consider providing some table lamps.
Don’t forget adequate lighting outdoors (often with the use
of sensors) to have as a safety feature for the property.
If you have bought a property to let, make sure there are
toilet roll holders, towel rails, mirror, bathroom cabinets
or shelves in the bathroom.
PRESENTATION TO A TENANT 
If
you are showing a prospective Tenant around, the following
guidelines should be noted:
The
property is clean, there are no dirty washing up items about
and if there are any unpleasant odours, open some windows
and let some fresh air circulate.
Bathroom
areas should be clean and leave the toilet seat down. Beds
should be covered.·
Although
you might be concerned about people walking on your carpet,
some tenants are not too happy about being asked to take off
their shoes.
Lighting
– even in summer we can have some very dull days, so turn
the lights on first. Lights make a property welcoming. If
the viewing takes place after dark, make sure your front door
outside light is switched on. ·
Curtains
– If the curtains are pulled over during the day, pull them
back. Just like ensuring sufficient artificial lighting, natural
lighting is equally as important and can give the impression
of more space particularly in smaller properties and rooms.
Garden
areas - Make sure the garden is tidy and inviting
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DEFINITIONS
of “FURNISHED, PART FURNISHED or UNFURNISHED LETS
UNFURNISHED
Let with curtains, carpets and kitchen equipment
– Electrical goods. (N.B. some electrical goods e.g. washing
machines can be rented)
PART
FURNISHED Let with the above plus
occasional furniture – some beds, settee or dining table and
chairs etc.
FULLY
FURNISHED Let with the above, but
including all furniture, china, crockery. & Cutlery etc.
Do not leave the property with too much furniture as the appearance
could be cluttered and rooms appear smaller than they are.
WHAT
TO LEAVE – Basic Requirements for a Furnished Letting
Unless
a let is in central London, Bedding, towels, TV’s, Videos
are not included. However, you might be requested to allow
the tenant to erect a satellite dish.
It
is recommended that all items of sentimental or real value
be removed as even the most careful of tenants have accidents.
If you are a returning owner occupier It is important if personal
possessions are stored in a secure area or with friends or
family.
If you are storing the items at the property, the storage
area should be secured and keys left at the managing agents
offices or with a relative or friend who can be easily contacted.
Emergency access
should not be denied to a tenant in respect of gas/electricity/water
mains and storage cisterns. N.B. be careful how you store
your belongings. Attic areas can become very hot in the summer
and garages can become very damp in the winter.
Furnishings –Each room must have adequate furniture
for the Tenants’ need and we list below the minimum for an
average 4 bedroom property. Some wall pictures can be included.
Lounge
– Three piece suite, or two sofas, or four lounge chairs,
coffee table. Occasional light.
Dining
Room – Dining table, chairs sideboard/dresser/storage.
Kitchen
– Modern cooker, fridge/freezer or separate units, washing
machine, tumble dryer, (in an apartment consider a washer/dryer)
Microwave – not essential, but becoming more popular.
Kitchen equipment
– Crockery, cutlery, glasses, cooking knives, chopping board,
saucepans, frying pan, wok, electric kettle, toaster, coffee/tea
mugs/cups/saucers, colander, baking tins, bottle and can opener
etc.
Bedrooms
– Beds (complying to Fire and Furnishing regulations), with
mattress protectors, wardrobe, bedside table, bedside lights,
chair, chest of drawers/dressing table, adequate storage for
the number of occupants.
Bathroom/shower
room – shaver point, wall cabinet, toilet roll holder
and towel rail.
General Household equipment-Vacuum cleaner and tools, brushes,
dustpan, ironing board & iron.
Garden
equipment- Unless you are providing a gardening service,
you should supply a lawn mower (that is capable of cutting
long grass if the tenant misses some cuts), spade, fork, rake,
shear, hoe, wheelbarrow, ladder etc. You might also like to
consider supplying garden furniture.
 General:
Make sure there are sufficient TV& telephone sockets around
the property Most tenants usually have a computer these days
and require Internet access.
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Looking
for a Buy to let Mortgage?
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Money Centre - Specialist Buy to Let, Residential
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WHAT
TYPE OF PROPERTY IS SUITABLE FOR LETTING ?
Almost all types of property are letable, provided they are
in good condition and well presented.
particularly those:
-
close
to good rail and road communications
-
If
there is a large garden, it is maintained
-
The
rental price is suitable to market requirements
-
There
is parking with the property or very close by
-
There
are not too many landlord restrictions
HOW
MUCH RENT CAN I ASK ?
Many factors determine the rental value of a property. These
include the size of the rooms (a two bedroom apartment with
two good size bedrooms will command a higher rent than one
with an average size bedroom and a box room size bedroom –
this type of property will attract two individuals sharing
who want similar size accommodation).
The
standard of the décor and furnishing, the location of the
property and current market conditions. Usually there is no
difference in rental levels these days if the property is
let furnished or unfurnished, but there may be a bigger demand
for a furnished one/two bedroom apartment opposed to an unfurnished
comparable.
On
the other hand executive corporate family lets usually look
for very good six four/five bedroom, three reception, two/three
bathroom houses with a double garage that are unfurnished.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FIND A TENANT ?
This will depend very much on the market conditions at the
time the property is being marketed and if the property is
on the market at a realistic price. It can also depend on
the type of property and the time of year.
HOW LONG IS THE TENANCY FOR ?
This will vary according to a Tenant’s requirements. In general
most agreements are drawn up for a minimum of six months or
one year with a break clause for the tenant to give two months
notice at any time after four months. (Please note that you
will not normally have a break clause in an agreement and
will have to add it yourself or your agent will have to do
this before the start of the letting.)
Most
corporate type lets will require a property to be available
for a minimum of three years, but the tenant will want the
right to break the agreement. For this type of letting it
is usual to have a rent agreed for the first year with an
option to extend for years two and three at a slightly higher
rent usually linked to inflation. You should also ensure that
a modern easy to understand English language tenancy agreement
is used.
HOW IS RENT PAID?
If you use an Agent for a management or rent collection service,
the rent will be paid to the agent and then passed over to
the Landlord less the agent’s commission each month (or agreed
period).
If
you are using an Agent’s Tenant introduction service the rent
should be directly paid into your bank account. You should
check your bank statement a few days after the rent has been
paid to make sure that it is in your account.
If
there are problems receiving it then, you can rectify the
situation quickly by contacting the Tenant or agent.
RESTRICTIONS ON TENANTS
You can put restrictions on the tenancy, e.g. no pets, non
smokers etc, but the more restrictions you impose the harder
it can be to let a property.
More
and more executive families working in this country want to
have a pet – cat or dog and with the opening up of pet travel
from the Passport for Pets programme, a landlord should consider
this issue very seriously.
Larger
deposits can be taken, clauses put into the tenancy agreement
stating all the carpets and curtains (and furniture if provided)
has to be professionally cleaned at the end of a tenancy.
INVENTORY
Many
disputes with tenants often involve the condition of the property
at the end of the tenancy. It is well worth considering using
an Independent Inventory Agent to carry out this work, as
they are specialists in this field.
Your
letting agent may have an “in-house” inventory service or
use an Independent company. If you are letting the property
privately, you can still find Inventory companies listed in
the local telephone directories.
The
inventory should show a list of all the contents of the property
including curtains, carpets, kitchen appliances and will also
state the state and condition of the walls, windows, light
switches etc.
It
will be checked in with the Tenant at the beginning of the
tenancy and at the end of the tenancy checked out. At the
check out the Inventory Agent will assess the state and condition
and prepare a schedule of dilapidations (damage, breakages)
if any taking into account fair wear and tear, the length
of the tenancy and the state and condition of the property
when it was let.
If you are letting unfurnished, it is still advisable to have
a professional inventory prepared and checked in and checked
out. Inventory fees vary according to the size of a property,
whether it is unfurnished or fully furnished.
If
you leave numerous items that have to be included in the inventory
e.g. books in a bookcase, the contents of a garage and workshop,
then obviously the costs of preparation will be much higher.
Most
letting Agents will not arbitrate in any dispute between Landlord
and Tenant and the final decision remains with the professional
inventory agent or a professional letting association.
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TRANSFER OF SERVICES Including Council Tax
Normally
your tenant will be responsible for the payment of Council
Tax, Water, Electricity, Gas, TV Licence, oil and Telephone.
Between lets you will be responsible for these (except TV
Licence if unoccupied).
The
agent or owner should write to the local authority and service
providers advising of the change of occupier. British Telecom
quite often will not transfer a service without the current
subscriber agreeing to this.
Please
note the telephone number at a property is for a current subscriber
and if you want to retain your existing number, you must make
arrangements with BT or Telephone service provider to hold
your number in “suspense”.
TENANT REFERENCING
Most Agents will take up Credit Search references using Letsure
or Homelet Referencing. or similar types of company. Provided
the references are satisfactory you can for an annual premium
subscribe to their Legal Protection insurance plan. See
If
the tenancy requires a Guarantor, the credit search company
will advise and referencing will have to be taken up on that
person. Company lets will also follow the same procedure.
PROPERTY MANUAL
From experience the Landlord will normally know how equipment
operates, where the stopcock is, when the dustmen call and
where the nearest school and pub are located.
You
should prepare a ring binder that gives notes about the working
of the property, the location of meters and the property’s
postcode etc. You should also include photocopies of instruction
manuals for the washing machine, cooker, vacuum cleaner, water
softener etc.
INSURANCE & LEGAL EXPENSES INSURANCE
You must advise your insurance company that the property is
being let. This should cover the buildings policy and contents.
You should also check to ensure you have sufficient public
liability cover.
Many
people who let unfurnished do not insure their contents. Contents
insurance for let property is really not expensive. If for
example you had a burst pipe in the attic and water damage
penetrated through to the kitchen. The buildings policy would
normally cover replacing the ceilings, decoration, but not
your carpets or curtains that were damaged as a result of
this accident.
A Tenant is normally responsible for insuring his/her contents
and this will not cover your belongings. It is possible to
take out insurance to cover the legal costs of pursuing claims
against the tenant arising from a breech of the terms of the
tenancy, including the costs of obtaining repossession.
For further information on insurance services go to Rental
Property Insurance for Landlords & Tenants
Because of the Regulations on the sales of Landlords &
Tenants insurance policies no advice can be given and you
must contact Letsure, Homelet or any other provider for advice
on policies.
INCOME TAX
The income derived from letting your property is subject to
UK tax. The position can vary depending if you are a UK resident
or a UK non-resident. It is money very well spent to use an
accountant.
Income earned in the UK is subject to taxation under self-assessment.
This means that the landlords will receive their income from
an agent less any bills the agent has settled on their behalf.
Any
tax implications will be between the landlord and Inland Revenue.
If you are a UK resident you will receive the usual personal
allowances applicable to your circumstances, which may be
offset against all your taxable income.
Income
from letting a property is subject to income tax at the basic
rate on profit. Profit is assessed after deducting expenses
from the rent received; examples are:
a) Any water, electricity, gas charges paid by the Landlord.
b) Insurance Premiums related to the cover of the buildings,
contents and loss of rent.
c) Repairs – but not improvements.
d) Letting Agents, accountants and legal fees- including VAT.
e) Mortgage interest payments.
f) Maintenance contractors e.g. gardening contractors
If you are going abroad (outside UK abroad will include Isle
of Man, Channel Islands), it is essential that you apply for
your FICO (Financial Intermediaries and Claims Office)
number through the Inland Revenue as quickly as possible.
The Inland Revenue has further information and you can download
information including a FICO application form at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/cnr/nr_landlords.htm.
Please
note until an Agent is informed by the Inland Revenue of a
FICO Approval number that they are not able to pay
over the rent without holding back an amount for tax. If the
certificate is not received or approved, they will have to
retain money for tax and pay this over to the Inland Revenue
on a quarterly basis.
They
would also make an administration charge to cover their time
in carrying out this work. If you are collecting the rent
direct, your tenant should withhold a percentage to cover
any tax liability, so it is essential that a) You obtain a
FICO approval and b) you employ the services of an
accountant.
If
an Agent is acting on a Tenant introduction basis and you
are going overseas you must still obtain a FICO approval
number as otherwise the tenant living at the property would
be responsible for the paying of tax and most tenants would
not want this inconvenience. The Letting Agent would also
be duty bound to advise them of the situation.
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Overseas
Properties - UK TAX
If
you invest in overseas property you must declare the profits
in the UK. Unless you are classified as non-UK domiciled,
you are taxed in the UK on all your income and gains wherever
these profits arise. If you let your overseas property you
should inform the tax authorities where the property is located,
which will sometime mean completing a tax return in that country.
The
income and expenses from your foreign property must be listed
on the foreign income pages of UK tax return.Any foreign tax
you pay on that income can normally be off-set against the
UK Tax duew where a double taxation agreement exists between
the UK and the country where the property is situated. Remember
other countries have different rules for tax deductible expenses.
Take professional help.
RECORD
KEEPING FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
As
a Landlord you are required to maintain complete records of
all expenses incurred and the income received from your properties.
This means that you must hang onto every relevent receipt
and keeping details of any personal assets you used for the
property business. An example of this would be to note down
the details of all journeys you make concerning your property's
business, the portion of your home used tp process related
paperwork and time spent on your computer carry out work for
the property.
You
should retain all bank statements and all records have to
be retained for five years after the tax return filing date.
Any receipts regarding property improvements should be kept
for six years after the end of the tax year in which the property
is sold. If you don't keep tax related records you could face
a UK fine of £3,000.
LEASEHOLD PROPERTY/ CONSENTS TO LET
If you have a mortgage, you should gain consent from the lender
prior to lending. If you do not you will be breaking the mortgage
covenant. Most lenders will give consent provided they have
seen and approved a tenancy agreement and that satisfactory
references are taken up on a given tenant.
In the case of a Leasehold Property, a consent to underlet
may be required from the Freeholder under the terms of the
head lease. You may also have to pay for a consent to underlet
a leasehold property. You might be required to provide a copy
of the Lease to be incorporated into any tenancy agreement
that is prepared.
LEGAL WORK
Most Agents will prepare the appropriate Tenancy agreement
is written in modern day user friendly legally approved language.
If you are letting the property yourself you may consider
using the services of a Solicitor.
TENANT’S DEPOSITS
When an Agent is rent collecting or managing a property they
will normally hold the deposit in separate clients account.
You should find out if your agent is a member of a professional
body like ARLA, NALS etc and maintains separate clients accounts.
On average a rental equivalent to six weeks rent should be
held.
Sometimes
a tenant will stop the final payment of rent and suggest that
you have the deposit instead. In the event of this happening
when there is only a months deposit held, there will be no
money for end of stay dilapidations or cleaning etc.
There
will be occasions, e.g. some Military and Corporate lets where
the company or country will guarantee the deposit and will
not therefore physically pay a deposit. Remember if you hold
the deposit, it is not your money and should be kept in separate
bank account.
N.B.
From April 2007 under the 2004 Housing Act Landlords will
no longer be able to hold deposits with AST tenancies unless
they have them registered with a specific scheme. See
Tenancy Deposit Scheme
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REDIRECTED POST
You should consider paying The post Office to redirect your
post for you. The Post Office charges for this service, but
you should receive your post quickly. Although a tenant might
initially send on the post to the agents or Landlord, this
can delay matters.
Apart
from arranging the redirection via the post office, you should
also leave your forwarding address in the Property Manual
with a note requesting them to cross through your address
and forward it on. (It does not cost anything in the UK, but
it will if the item has to be sent overseas). You should also
write to your bank, Credit Card Company, insurance, mortgage
company, friends and give them your new address
KEYS
You should leave sufficient number of keys for the number
of people renting the property. Some Agents will retain a
set at their offices. You should label up all the keys at
the property. e.g. garage door, French windows, front door,
windows etc.
ALARM SYSTEMS
If you have an alarm system make the Tenants (and Agents if
applicable) have the appropriate access codes. It should be
clearly defined who actually pays for alarm maintenance –
Landlord or Tenant.
SAFETY GAS, ELECTRIC, FIRE & FURNISHINGS, SMOKE DETECTORS
Gas: The regulations were introduced to ensure that
appliances are properly installed and maintained to avoid
the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. At the commencement
of a letting, a Landlord is required by law to hold a current
Gas Safety Record.
The
tenant must be provided with a copy of the record prior to
occupation. The gas safety record must be renewed annually
and must cover all gas appliances in the property. An authorised
CORGI registered engineer can carry out the Inspection. N.B.
A standard annual service would not be sufficient to comply
with the requirements of the regulations
Electricity:
At present there is no specific statutory
requirement to prove that the appliances supplied are regularly
checked or tested; the Landlord does have a duty of care.
Dangerous wiring, flexes, exposed cable and damaged sockets
must all be replaced. Appliances must be fitted with a sleeved
insulated plug.See
also Part "P" Building Regulations (Electrical Safety
in Dwellings) england and Wales Click
Here
Furniture
& Furnishings: From the 1st January 1997 any furniture
supplied as part of a new letting that commenced after 1st
March 1993 must comply with the regulations. They do not apply
to Antique furniture made before 1950, carpets, curtains,
pillowcases, duvets, bed linen or loose cover for mattresses.
Generally they apply to all other furniture that has a cover
fabric and filling including cushions, padded headboards,
loose covers, beds and pillows etc. If your items do not comply
and have appropriate safety labels, they should be removed
from the property. The independent inventory agent will normally
note down the compliance on the inventory.
Smoke
Detectors: These are compulsory in all new homes built since
June 1992 and these have to be fitted via a mains feed on
each floor. There are no specific statutory regulations stating
these have to be put in older buildings (unless it is a registered
House in multiple Occupation), but it is advisable to fit
a battery detector in stairways and halls/landings. You might
also like to consider providing a fire extinguisher and blanket
for the kitchen.
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CLEANING
& GARDENING
Before a Tenant moves into your property that it is professionally
cleaned throughout. If you have not had your carpets cleaned
for a while, they must be professionally cleaned and you might
like to consider having a protective coating put on them by
the cleaning contractor. Windows should be clean inside and
out.
You should make sure that your chimneys and flues have been
swept. In many tenancy agreements, a clause states that tenants
should do this during the tenancy, but they must also be done
prior to the tenancy starting.
It is often normal practice to have a clause in the tenancy
agreement stating the gardens have to be maintained in a satisfactory
condition. Over the last twenty years, the lifestyle of a
tenant has changed. You do get some enthusiastic gardeners,
but the majority of tenants are working long hours and when
it comes to a weekend want to pursue other activities rather
than gardening. We would suggest whenever possible:
a)
You have a gardener to attend to hedges, shrubs and trees
at least twice a year or
b)
Include this together with regular maintenance of lawns and
flowerbeds. A tenant who knows that they will not have to
look after a garden will be happier to rent your property.
EMPTY
PROPERTY
You will find that most Letting Agents will not be responsible
for a property between lets and that you have to agree a fee
for checking the property. You should also check the terms
of your property insurance regarding this issue.
During the winter months if the property is empty that either
you have the water system drained down professionally or leave
the heating running.
INVESTMENT PROPERTY – BUY TO LET
Buying residential property can be an attractive investment.
Many people are now purchasing property as part of their pension
arrangements. Investors should be aware that it is best managed
as a medium or long term proposition.
There
are a host of factors that may influence the type of property
that is acquired as well as the geographical area that is
chosen. It is always best to seek professional advice in each
instance before deciding on a property and we would be happy
to assist you and you take into consideration the following:
-
Length
of lease, if leasehold
-
Service
charge and consents to let from freeholder
-
Location
-
Floor
level if you are purchasing an apartment
-
Property
type – 4 bedroom property should have at least two bathrooms
etc
-
Amount
to be spent on the property – New bathroom & Kitchen,
decoration levels
WHICH
LETTING SERVICE DO YOU WANT FROM YOUR AGENT?
Many UK agents offer three types of service:
TENANT
INTRODUCTION
RENT
COLLECTION
FULL
MANAGEMENT SERVICE
TENANT
INTRODUCTION: The Agents find a tenant, take up credit
search references, prepare the tenancy agreement *, arrange
the check in of the tenant * and advise the gas, electricity
& water companies & local council of change of occupier.
After that the rental is paid directly to the Landlord and
all management is carried out by the Landlord The letting
fee is payable once the tenant has been installed.
RENT COLLECTION: The Agents find a tenant, take up
credit search references, prepare the tenancy agreement *,
arrange the check in of the tenant * and advise the gas, electricity
& water companies & local council of change of occupier.
The Agent collects the rental and pays this over to the Landlord
each month less their fees. The Landlord carries out all management.
FULL MANAGEMENT: The Agents find a tenant, take up
credit search references, prepare the tenancy agreement *,
arrange the check in of the tenant * and advise the gas, electricity
& water companies & local council of change of occupier.
They collect the rental and pay this over to the Landlord
each month less their fees & manage the property. This
involves dealing with enquiries from the tenant, arranging
routine maintenance e.g. washing machine repairs, plumbing
repairs etc and visiting the property approximately three
times a year for a property inspection. If major works are
requested by the Landlord, e.g. decoration, new carpets, insurance
claim work etc, they would usually make an additional charge.
*Please note additional charges are normally payable for Tenancy
Agreement preparation & independent Inventory Agents charges.
Stamp Duty on Tenancy Agreements: From the 1st December 2003,
Stamp Duty has been abolished and replaced with Stamp Duty
Land Tax. The starting point for this is Ł120,000. This means
that the vast majority of Tenancy Agreements will not attract
SDLT. When this tax has to be paid it will be the Tenant’s
responsibility.
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CHECKLIST
Listed
below is a summary of points that need to be addressed prior
to the tenancy starting:
MORTGAGE
Get permission to let from your Mortgage Lender
LEASEHOLD
PROPERTY Obtain consent from the Freeholder if you are
a leaseholder
INSURANCE
Review Buildings and Contents insurance You can do this via
Homelet 
or Endsleigh 
by going to Rental
Property Insurance for Landlords & Tenants
MAIL
Arrange for the redirection of mail with the Post Office
PROPERTY
INSTRUCTIONS Prepare a Property Manual with instructions
for appliances, location of stop cocks and an information
guide for Tenants – local schools, neighbours, shops etc
GAS
SAFETY CHECK Organise a gas safety check & appropriate
certificate
ELECTRICAL
CHECK Make sure that all appliances are compliant and
that wiring and sockets are safe.
CHIMNEY
/ FLUES Make sure that these have been swept prior to
letting
SMOKE
DETECTORS Smoke & CO detectors are in working order
FIRE
& FURNISHING Only furniture & soft furnishings
that meet the current regulation should remain
STOP
COCKS Label up internal stop cocks
LPG
GAS BOTTLES Make sure these are full at the tenancy commencement
OIL
TANKS Make sure that these are full at the tenancy start
SEPTIC
TANKS Ensure that these are emptied at the start of the tenancy
KEYS
Label up any keys you leave at the property or bring to our
offices indicating the doors/windows they are for.
PERSONAL
ITEMS Ensure that all personal and valuable items are
suitably securely stored or removed
TELEPHONE
Ensure that there is a line installed and that you have requested
a closing account
CONTRACTORS
Provide the agent or Tenant with a full list of contractors
(if we are rent collecting or offering an introduction and
you want the tenant to arrange for his/her own repairs)
DECORATION
Make sure the property is in good decorative
condition
GARDEN
Ensure the garden is suitably maintained and
if a gardener is being provided with the let make arrangements
for this
PROPERTY
CLEANING The property should be
professionally cleaned prior to the let Provided the instruction
is in writing the agents can arrange this.
UTILITIES
& COUNCIL TAX You should advise the service companies
of the new tenants names and take the gas & electric meter
readings(and water if on meter) and write to the companies
and local authority.
N.B.
This information should not be relied on for accuracy and
is presented here without the responsibility of jml Property
Service and the website it is being displayed at. ©jml
property Services 09-04
See also Landlords
Letting Advice Guide Click
Here
How to present a Rental property Click
Here
Housing
Act 2004 Click
Here
Condensation Problems Click Here
Tenancy
Deposit Protection Scheme Click
Here
Property
News - A
2006 property boom in the UK predicted on back of pension
reform - March 2005
Click Here
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Federation of Residential Landlords, National Landlords Association
in the UK and British Chamber of Commerce Cote d'Azur - France
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