Advice to a landlord
The following section as been compiled to ensure that any decision you make with regards to renting a property are both informative and advantageous.
Through a wealth of experience and first hand knowledge we have given you an insight of what you can and should expect from your tenant.
Take the time to read these sections and it will better prepare you for tenants that will be renting your investment.
Whilst we appreciate that a vacant property is costing you money, do decide in advance how much time and money you wish to allocate to the property for tenant requests. If a tenant prior to signing the contract and subsequently on moving in, makes too many unreasonable requests, don’t be frightened to say no.
Bellwether Inventories does not attribute costs to any dilapidations found at the check-out appointment, check with your managing agent before signing contracts that this is part of the service offered.
It is strongly recommended that you use an agent that is a member of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) or similar body.
The following list is not exhaustive and is intended as a helpful and informative guide only:
Moving In
- Garden
- Establish who is responsible for the upkeep of any garden, if you make the tenant responsible it would not be unreasonable for them to request adequate gardening equipment.
- Gas
- Have the Gas Safety certificate available on the tenancy start date. This is a mandatory requirement by law.
- Keys
- Establish how many sets of keys you will be giving, 2 sets per property is industry standard, on larger properties some landlords are prepared to handover more.
- Management
- Establish with the tenant who is responsible for the management of the property, make sure you give contact details and emergency contact details on the day the tenancy starts. This becomes especially important if they move in out of office hours or at the weekend.
- Manuals
- Do not hand over original manuals or instructions for appliances, leave photocopies within the premises. Manuals are often inadvertently packed and are generally prone to being lost.
- Utility Companies
- Give a list of the utility companies pertaining to the property and establish whose responsibility it is to inform the utility companies of any readings and / or connections.
- Windows
- Hand over any keys needed at the tenancy start date.
During the tenancy
- Access
- In case of emergency, you are entitled to enter the property without notice, but generally at least two days notice is considered reasonable. At least one day’s notice is also considered reasonable when you need to show the property to perspective tenants or buyers.
- Blue Tack
- Blue tack on porous surfaces like walls etc leave grease spot stains when removed we advise you to say no to tenants who request this.
- Furniture
- If the tenant decides to put your furniture or belongings into storage, unless you give them permission, it is still their responsibility for any damage or soiling.
- Picture Hooks
- If the tenant request picture hooks, nails etc, you must establish whose responsibility it is to ‘make good’ the walls / woodwork upon the end of the tenancy, if at all. If the tenant has not received permission, you are entitled to have any hole(s) filled and the wall / woodwork repainted at their expense.
Moving out
- Cleaning
- You are entitled to have the property returned to you at the same level of cleanliness as at the start of the tenancy. The inventory will accurately record this and be evidence of the fact.
- Keys
- If at the end of the tenancy you do not receive back all keys listed on the inventory both internal and external, you are entitled to have any relevant locks changed at the tenant’s expense.
- Rental
- If the tenant leaves before the lease expires, they are responsible for paying the rent for the remainder of the lease. However, you should make an effort to re-rent the property. If this is not done, the tenant may not be liable for rent beyond a reasonable period of time.
- Utility Companies
- Establish whose responsibility it is to inform the utility companies of any final readings and / or disconnections. You should also make sure that their names have been taken off any bills from the date of the end of the tenancy. The tenant must inform you of any change in utility companies.
