HOW TO

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HOW TO
Successfully let your property By Maxine
Fothergill
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What is needed before a tenancy begins?

• Gas Certificates - annually
• Electric Certificates 5 yearly
• Furniture check on all soft furnishing
• Fire checks (HMOs) and smoke detectors
• Inventory and schedule of condition Very
  important to get this right at the start of the
  tenancy as this can avoid a lot of problem at the
  end

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How do I find a tenant?

• Adverts and marketing placed by yourself
• Lettings Agents Let only or fully managed
  service what is the difference?
• Internet Sites
• NEVER let you property out to a complete stranger
  or the friend of a friend met down the pub who
  want to pay you cash now and move in tomorrow
  it is so tempting but not worth it, always get a
  professional credit check and full reference on
  any prospective tenant

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What is involved in setting up a tenancy
agreement?

• Referencing of prospective tenants
• Rental guarantee insurance
• Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement (AST)
• Rental in advance
• Holding Deposit / Deposit
• Agree with tenant inventory and schedule of
  condition and get them to sign a copy of the
  above

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Can I view my property on a regular basis?

• If managing agents are looking after the property
  this should form part of the service, if you are
  managing it yourself you need to set the scene at
  the beginning with your new tenants and let them
  know that you will be inspecting the property
  every 3/6 months
• Access can be gained only with tenants blessing
  and 24 hour notice in writing
• If emergency repair is needed you still need to
  get tenants approval

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What happens if the tenant is not looking after
my property and/or stops paying the rent?

• Speak to tenant and then put bullet pointed
  conversation in writing
• Take legal advice 2 months non payment is
  automatically a mandatory ground of issuing
  proceedings to evict
• Usually takes minimum of 8 weeks to get to court
• NEVER use harassment or attempt to throw out your
  tenants and change the locks, this is a criminal
  offence and YOU could end up behind bars!!!

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How does a tenancy end?

• Tenants giving written notice
• Section 21 legal notice
• Section 8 legal notice
• Bailiff!!!

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What do I do next to avoid making expensive
mistakes?

• Join SPLA your local landlord Association
  affiliated to the NFRL
• Read your FREE handbook (landlords Bible the
  everything you need to know guide)
• Attend all the local FREE events to keep you
  updated
• Use the FREE members helpline as much as you need
  to
• Use the correct SPLA tenancy agreements and legal
  notices which are regularly updated by our
  landlord and tenant solicitor
• And finally sign up to attend a LLAS one day
  training course and benefit from all the help,
  advice, certification and potential grant funding
  

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Maxine Fothergill LandlordMD of Amax Lettings
Property Services LtdDirector of Southern
Private Landlords, Vice Chair of the NFRL and
LLAS approved trainer