A Landlords Guide to renting property

04 | Appraising your property

One of our experienced staff will carry out an appraisal of your property, advise you of its likely rental value and how it should be advertised and promoted. Remember, our valuers are experienced in the letting of property and can offer advice on legal requirements such as Safety Certificates etc. There is no charge for the appraisal visit.

05 | Security deposits

A tenant will pay a security deposit to us before moving in and is entitled to have it back at the end of the tenancy, provided the rent has been fully paid and the property is left clean and in good order. Any rent arrears, together with the cost of rectifying any damage or having cleaning carried out may be deducted from the deposit at the end of the tenancy. All money deposited with Elite Estates and Lettings is held in a special Clients Account and we ensure full compliance with the legal requirements of the Deposit Protection Service – another thing you need not worry about.

06 | Tenancy Terms

Properties are usually let as Assured Shorthold Tenancies, typically for a period of 6 or 12 months, at the landlord’s option. At the end of the Term, the landlord may agree to let to the same tenant for an extra term if he wishes, but otherwise is entitled to regain possession of the property. Provided the relevant Notice document has been served the tenant must move out.

09 | Energy Performance certificates

The Government requires that all residential property to rent has an EPC. We have our own recommended list of fully qualified and accredited Domestic Energy Assessors who are authorised to carry out this work. We can supply you with a fully compliant EPC – whether or not we are letting or managing your property.

10 | Using an agent

Just as some people service their own cars and re-fit their own kitchens, you can certainly let your own property. But in your busy day-to-day life, the reassurance of knowing that your major investment is being let to a reliable tenant, at a guaranteed rent, the deposit is safely held in compliance with the law and all maintenance and repairs are being dealt with by tried and tested local contractors, is worth the small cost involved. After all, while most lettings proceed to a smooth and trouble-free conclusion, there can be difficulties along the way – and that’s when you appreciate having an expert on hand to look after things for you.

11 |  Elite Estates and Lettings and Rentals

Elite Estates have an established rental and management division. We have been handling residential lettings in Durham for many years and have built up a large portfolio of clients with property to rent including many large organisations, who are often seeking properties to rent for executives in the Durham area. We have rented properties ranging from small flats and cottages through to Ambassadorial style houses. As experienced Durham Agents we deal with all aspects of residential lettings which would include extensive marketing, evaluating suitable tenants, taking up rental and management references, processing paperwork, including the preparation of a tenancy agreement and statutory notices, with the intention of ensuring that any transaction proceeds smoothly and quickly. If you have a property to rent, we would be glad to value it and advise you of our proposed marketing strategy. We will provide you with details of current legislation governing the rental of property in the UK. You should also be made aware of the implications of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement and the differences between these and Contractual Tenancies or Company Lets, the required Statutory Notices, the Fire and Furnishing Safety Regulations Act 1998 and the Gas Safety Regulations 1994, The (Part P) Electrical Regulations 2005 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2003.

12 |  Type of Agreements

If the Tenancy agreement is to be in your name and the rent is less than £100,000 per annum, you and the Tenants are most likely to enter into an Assured Shorthold Agreement. This form of agreement came into effect in 1989, under the Housing Act of 1988. This is a fixed term agreement that runs for a minimum period of six months. Our own comprehensive Tenancy Agreements and Assured Shorthold Agreements have been prepared by Solicitors and are designed to be both fair to the Landlord and the Tenant. Both parties will be bound by the terms of the agreement. You should read your Agreement carefully and make sure you understand all the clauses. You should always endeavour to seek independent legal advice from your solicitor prior to you signing it.

13 |  Option to renew, break, or purchase

Depending on the type and terms of your agreement, your Tenant may have an option to renew for a further period of time. If this is the case, they must notify us in writing within the time period specified in your Agreement. If there is no option to renew, but both you and the Tenant wish to extend or renew your Agreement, this can be organised. In both cases, once terms are agreed we will prepare the necessary documentation. In addition, the Tenant may want an option to break (cut short) the Agreement. This must be agreed with the Landlord at the outset. They may be responsible for the proportionate part of the agent’s commission and Landlord’s costs paid in advance by the Landlord if they determine the tenancy early. Notice to terminate must be adhered to, as specified in your Agreement. The Landlord can also request an option to break, but in the case of an Assured Shorthold, not before six months. They can also request, in certain cases, an option to purchase the property but this must be agreed at the outset. In that case a separate commission for the purchase will apply and terms needs to be agreed with Elite Estates and Lettings.

14 |  Rent Payments

Rental payments are payable monthly, quarterly, half yearly or annually in advance, depending on the terms of your Agreement, whether legally demanded or not. The Tenant can pay in cash or through their bank by standing order or direct debit. The first payment would normally be made payable to Elite Estates and will be paid at the time that they sign the agreement along with the agreed deposit and other charges. If they wish to move in immediately upon signature, then we will need cleared funds by way of either cash or a Bankers Draft. Further payments will normally be paid directly to the Landlords account as detailed above. Elite Estates will usually collect the rent if a Management service is being provided.

17 |  Initial payments

As stated above, once the Tenants have chosen a property and the terms of the Tenancy have been agreed, Elite Estates and Lettings draw up the relevant documents for signature. At this time Elite Estates and Lettings ask them to make a payment to hold the property, equivalent to 1 weeks rent. This deposit may be non-refundable if they withdraw from the letting or supply inaccurate or false information.

18 |  Utilities

Most Agreements require the Tenant to be responsible for gas, electricity, telephone, water rates and TV license as well as Council Tax. Gas, electricity and telephone companies will carry out a credit check on the Tenant. If they have not been a customer before, they may ask for a deposit against the first year’s bill. You must inform all the relevant services of your start date as must the Tenants. It is your responsibility to notify the relevant utilities of your impending termination date, at the termination of the Tenancy.

19 |  Council Tax

You must inform the local authority of the start date. The council will then send them a registration form. It is a criminal offence not to pay Council Tax.

22 |  Furniture and Furnishings regulations

March 1993 saw the application of the above Regulations to furnished lettings. They require that upholstered furniture supplied in a furnished property to rent must meet all the resistance requirements of the Regulations. The supply of furnishings “in the course of business” which do not meet the Regulation constitutes an offence under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. Conviction for an offence under the Regulations carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £5,000 or six months’ imprisonment, or both. The phrase “in the course of business” includes the business of letting furnished accommodation by Landlords and can also include the business of a Letting Agent. However, Landlords who privately let their principal residence are not caught by this definition, unless the property to rent is long term or they carry on persistent letting. In brief, the Regulations require that the upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows and cushions, and head boards and head bases which are upholstered and included in a furnished letting must have a fire resistant filling material, the covering fabric must have passed a match resistance test and the combination of cover fabric and filling must have a passed cigarette resistance test. The Regulations do not apply to soft furnishings such as curtains, carpets, etc. Furniture, manufactured before 1 January 1950 have been deemed not to be made with especially hazardous materials and is exempt. There is also some leeway for properties which have been subject to a continuous let since before 1 March 1993. In this case the Regulations need not be complied with up to 31 December 1996. However, any replacement furniture supplied during this transitional period must comply.

Since 1 March 1990, all new upholstered furniture sold in retail outlets has had to comply with the Regulations. In order to show compliance, such furniture carries a permanent label stating the tests to which the materials have been subjected. This label is of great assistance to a Letting Agent or Landlord in determining what furniture is acceptable in order not to commit an offence. Further guidance and a free booklet produced by the Department for Trade and Industry is available from your local Council Trading Standards Department, or from this office. Please ensure that the furniture and furnishings of your property conform to the regulations of the above act. Elite Estates and Lettings cannot be held responsible if your furnishings and furniture does not comply with current regulations.

23 |  Gas safety regulations

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 are made under the Health and Safety at Work act 1974, which is the principal legislation relating to the same. The principal obligations of the Landlord are to be found in Regulations 34, 35 and 36 and the offences in Section 33 and 36 (1) Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Details of which are available from this office and the Health and Safety executive. The act governs the Landlords obligations regarding property to rent, unsafe appliances, and maintenance of appliances, escape of gas and criminal liability.

24 |  Identification

In accordance with current legislation, specifically the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 (MLR 2003); the Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA 2002); the Terrorism Act 2000 (TA 2000) amongst other requirements, we are obliged by law to properly identify clients of this firm. However, in the interests of safe practice, we also require proper identification on those parties who rent a property through us. In this regard, we require you to provide us with formal identification. This can be in the following form: a valid passport, or a valid EU/UK photo driving license. We also, however, require proof of address. This could be a utility bill, or a mortgage statement, or an Inland Revenue tax notification. The above should be brought to our office in person, where a copy will be made and retained in our records. In the event that you are unable to visit us personally, we would accept copies. In the case of joint owners, buyers or tenants, both must comply with the above legislation.