what happens when the tenant moves
in? Meter readings are sent, the inventory and
schedule of condition is signed by the incoming TENANTS,
and a deposit of up to six week's rent is taken. This
will be held by PetLets.Net as insurance against non-payment
or loss or damaged to the property.
who will be responsible for the
bills? Obviously as landlord you will have to ensure
that your property is covered by a good insurance policy.
Apart from that, you won't have to worry about a thing!
The tenant will be responsible for the telephone, all
utility bills and rates. When will my rent be paid? The
first payment will be made by standing order to PetLets.Net
on the first or 15th of the month, and thereafter by standing
order at the same time every month. Funds will be forwarded
to you within 14 days of receipt, and you will receive
clear monthly statements illustrating how much and when
monies have been paid. What's more, you can request a
statement from PetLets.Net at any time, which will be
sent to you at the touch of a button.
who will look after and maintain
my property? To be certain that your property is
being properly cared for, we will regularly inspect your
property throughout the tenancy period. Should emergency
maintenance work be required, such as plumbing, windows
or flood damage, PetLets.Net will arrange for the work
to be completed quickly and cost-effectively. Where possible
we will seek your consent and submit estimates for your
approval.
how do I get my property back?
The initial tenancy agreement may be for six or twelve
months, or longer. Once this period has lapsed, two month's
notice for TENANTS to quit must be given in writing to
the letting agent. Once vacant, PetLets.Net will inspect
your property, and use any security deposit required to
ensure that possession is return to you in the same condition
as when the tenancy commenced.
can the rent be guaranteed? Yes
it can! PetLets.Net recommends that landlords take out
a specialised insurance policy that protects against unexpected
rent voids. For example, your tenant may become ill, lose
his job or be made redundant. Additionally, the policy
will cover you for any legal expenses incurred should
you need to regain possession of your property at any
time.
will renting my property mean
increased income tax? Possibly, although many expenses
incurred letting your property can be off-set against
your income tax. It needn't be complicated. PetLets.Net
will be able to recommend a well-known firm of accountants
who have particular experience offering advice to owners
who let their properties temporarily or permanently. They
will also be able to deal with the Inland Revenue, or
offer help completing tax returns etc.
furnished or unfurnished
It doesn't really matter! There is a lot of demand for
both, and consequently there is little difference in the
rent that can be achieved. If, however, your are able
to leave a fridge, cooker and washing machine this can
make letting your property easier.
decoration Good, clean,
neutral décor is a definite advantage. A fresh coat of
paint can make all the difference to renting your property
and ease of maintenance. But remember - everyone's taste
is different - neutral is best!
antiques Your property
may need to look its best, but please don't leave any
expensive or sentimental furniture or effects - accidents
can happen!
valuables We would recommend
that you remove any black goods such as television,
video and stereo equipment - they are invariably contentious
should they need repairs.
cleaning It is always
advisable to leave your property spotlessly clean, including
carpets, curtains and sanitaryware. Professionally cleaned
properties mean professional TENANTS, which in turn
means higher standards.
appliances All electrical
appliances must be in good working order. Where possible,
make available instruction booklets for central heating
boilers, cookers, water softeners etc. to eliminate
the need for frequent phone calls or visits.
guarantees If any guarantees
or extra insurances are applicable - please supply Lanes
with copies.
gas and electricity regulations
Safety regulations that cover electrical equipment
and gas installations are in place to protect both landlords
and TENANTS. Make sure you are familiar with law. See
the Safety Info page by clicking on the logo to the
left.
fire regulations The
Fire and Furnishings Safety Regulations of 1988 make
it an offence to supply furniture that does not meet
certain safety standards. It is the landlord's responsibility
to make sure that all legal requirements are being fulfilled.
See the Safety Info page by clicking on the logo to
the left.
smoke detectors Smoke detectors
save lives. A minimum of one smoke detector is recommended
on each floor of your property. These must be in good
working order, and supplied with new batteries.
saftey info
gas appliances and installations
Under the Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations
1994 as amended in 1996 Landlords are required by law
to meet certain requirements in request of installed gas
appliances and the supply of electricity and electrical
appliances.
This page is aimed at giving advice to landlords and
TENANTS about the implications of this legislation and
it should be considered carefully.
All gas appliances should be regularly maintained so
they run safely and reliably and should only be worked
on by a qualified CORGI (Council for Registered Gas Installers)
gas engineer.
Heating appliances such as fires, water heaters and boilers,
need to be serviced at least once a year. For other appliances
manufacturers instructions should be consulted for the
correct service interval, however, it is advisable to
have all appliances serviced at least annually.
the regulations require that:
- A gas appliance with an open flue should not be installed
in a bedroom (or any room used for sleeping).
- Where the gas meter is installed in a meter box, the
installer should supply the consumer with a suitably
labelled key to the box.
- After an installer or engineer has carried out any
work on any gas appliance, a defined series of safety
checks and tests must be performed.
- Any person who installs a gas appliance in a property
must leave operating instructions for the occupier of
the premises.
- Any person responsible for the premises must not allow
to be used any gas appliance that is suspected or known
to be faulty or incorrectly installed.
tenanted premises
- It is duty of the owner to ensure that all gas appliances
and associated pipework are maintained in a safe condition
and checked for safety at least every 12 months by a
suitably qualified engineer.
- A record of the gas appliances in the property must
be kept with dates of inspection, any defects identified
and made available on request for the inspection of
any tenant who may be affected by the use or operation
of any appliance.
- The occupier and owner of the premises must be informed
of any defect in any gas appliance or pipework in the
property.
A gas appliance needs to draw in an adequate supply of
air in order to work correctly and safely. Often vents
and air bricks are provided for this purpose and care
must be taken not to block any ventilation.
If the flue or chimney is blocked, waste gas may build
up in a room. This can be fatal. Flues must be checked
before an appliance is fitted and every year when it is
serviced.
These requirements are essential.
checks required:
- Check flue is clear and unobstructed.
- Clean and check burners.
- Pressure test on gas pipework.
You can also carry out your own simple checks, the following
may show your appliance is not working properly:
- Check flue is clear and unobstructed.
- Clean and check burners.
- Pressure test on gas pipework.
furniture & furnishings fire & safety regulations From
1st January 1997, landlords must ensure that all upholstered
furniture complies with The Fire and Furnishings (Fire)
(Safety) Regulations 1988. In general the requirements of
the Regulations are that:
- upholstered furniture (e.g. beds, sofas, armchairs)
must have fire resistant filling material.
- upholstered furniture must pass a cigarette resistance
test (except mattresses, bedbases, pillows and cushions)
- permanent covers must pass a match resistance test.
A cover need not pass this test if it is made of at
least 75% by weight of cotton, flax, viscose, modal
silk or wool and not coated with polyurethane and this
cover has an interliner which passes this test.
Furniture in any property which qualifies for the transitional
period (i.e. was let prior to March 1993 and continued
to be let) does not have to comply until the tenant, who
occupies the property prior to 1st January 1997, vacates
the property.
buying extra furniture One
of the important provisions of the new regulations is that
any furniture added to the property since March 1st 1993
must comply with the fire resistance requirements whether
second-hand furniture for a rental property, you should
always check to see that there is an appropriate label.
Furniture or furnishings manufactured after the introduction
of the regulations in 1989 should all have labels attached.
Remember it is also illegal to sell furniture which
does not comply with the regulations - so one cannot get
round the requirements by selling the furnishings to your
tenant which do not comply.
articles covered by the regulations:
- furniture covers
- furniture fillings
- garden furniture which is suitable for use in a swelling
- loose and stretch covers for furniture
- nursery furniture
- pillows scatter cushions and seat pads
- sofa-beds, futons and other convertibles
the regulations do not apply to:
- antique furniture or any furniture made before 1950
- bed clothes (including duvets)
- carpets
- curtains
- cushion covers
- loose covers for mattresses
- pillowcases
- sleeping bags
It is essential that all furnishings covered by the regulations
are checked, and if appropriate replaced prior to letting
the property. Remember, if in doubt it is better to replace
the item. Failure to comply could result in fines of up
to £5,000 and / or 6 months imprisonment.
electrical appliances and electricity
supply Under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations
19994 landlords are required to ensure that the electrical
supply and appliances are 'safe' within a property.
As managing Agents it is important that we advise you
as a landlord or potential landlord of the requirements
imposed by the legislation.
It is essential that all electrical appliances in managed
properties are safe and are checked for defects at regular
intervals (e.g. frayed wiring, badly fitted plugs etc.)
Any unsafe items should be removed from the property.
No statutory checking procedure or timescale exists.
However an annual inspection for electrical appliances
including an annual electrical supply safety check (this
is dependent upon the age and state of the supply), by
a qualified electrical engineer is advisable. Records
of checks conducted at a property should be maintained
for inspection.
The maximum penalty for non compliance with these regulations
is a fine of £5,000 or six months imprisonment, or both.