First time landlord... What have I forgotten?
Discussion
RC1 said:
thought about how to handle the deposit ie custodial vs non custodial scheme etc
Good point. I expect your agent may handle this, but if you have to I use these people:https://www.depositprotection.com/
No problems with them, even had three disputes handled by their Disputes Dept, all in my favour. It did highlight the absolutely essential need to photograph everything prior to letting. A signed inventory helped too.
Rhodr1 said:
Some good tips above. Don't forget to notify your council that you are going to be vacating the property, and it's going to be empty until you find a tenant. Pointless you forking out for council tax whilst the property is vacant.
Homeowner still pays the council tax when house is empty.
dazwalsh said:
Rhodr1 said:
Some good tips above. Don't forget to notify your council that you are going to be vacating the property, and it's going to be empty until you find a tenant. Pointless you forking out for council tax whilst the property is vacant.
Homeowner still pays the council tax when house is empty.
ks but that's council tax for you! I think I get a discount when it's empty, on the list to check with the council! Keep good accounting records. It's very easy to forget about those little bits of expenditure which soon add up but which are allowable against the rental income. Why pay more to HMRC than you have to?
Tenants - inspect regularly at first, best to nip any problems in the bud early. They aren't your friend so don't be (too) worried about upsetting them.
Go with your gut instinct when meeting potential tenants, if they seem like trouble, chances are they will be.
Tenants - inspect regularly at first, best to nip any problems in the bud early. They aren't your friend so don't be (too) worried about upsetting them.
Go with your gut instinct when meeting potential tenants, if they seem like trouble, chances are they will be.
HootersGsy said:
Go with your gut instinct when meeting potential tenants, if they seem like trouble, chances are they will be.
^^^THIS!^^^ & follow up on every reference, I think 1in 10 has fallen down because refs & salaries didn't add up for my lets in spite of how ideal/likeable they seemed. ILoveMondeo said:
RC1 said:
thought about how to handle the deposit ie custodial vs non custodial scheme etc
Agent will be sorting this for me!Why? Well that is simple.
Tenant pays agent deposit.
They do whatever with it. Protect it. Keep it. Keep it in their client account. Whatever.
Agent goes bust.
Who is responsible for returning the tenants deposit? The agent? Nope. You are.
Remember . the tenant is a customer and paying you to be honest and repair when required etc. Its all against the tenant these days. I think landlords get it way too easy .A new possible tenant should be allowed to get a reference from the tenant who is leaving or let. has the right to check the property is a BTL and been let legally in terms with a mortgage etc . ```many landlords fanny around thinking they hold all the cards .In The UK, Landlords get away with way too much. Germany is a far better place to rent etc.
landlords should also prove that they ARE paying the mortgage . Hear too many reports of new tenants been evicted by banks as landlord takes rent and pisses off leaving a right mess .
landlords should also prove that they ARE paying the mortgage . Hear too many reports of new tenants been evicted by banks as landlord takes rent and pisses off leaving a right mess .
soi6 said:
Remember . the tenant is a customer and paying you to be honest and repair when required etc. Its all against the tenant these days. I think landlords get it way too easy .A new possible tenant should be allowed to get a reference from the tenant who is leaving or let. has the right to check the property is a BTL and been let legally in terms with a mortgage etc . ```many landlords fanny around thinking they hold all the cards .In The UK, Landlords get away with way too much. Germany is a far better place to rent etc.
landlords should also prove that they ARE paying the mortgage . Hear too many reports of new tenants been evicted by banks as landlord takes rent and pisses off leaving a right mess .
Only bad muppet landlords behave like this, it is very easy for a prospective tenant to spot them;landlords should also prove that they ARE paying the mortgage . Hear too many reports of new tenants been evicted by banks as landlord takes rent and pisses off leaving a right mess .
Property will be in bad order, in a dodgy area , initial contact will be way too casual and badly organised with a few poor excuses thrown in.
As a tenant run like the wind unless you are a crap tenant in which case congratulations you've met your perfect landlord
ILoveMondeo said:
Understood, dishwasher is integrated, so cant really whip that away, no skin of my nose to nab the fridge/freezer and washing machine when we move.
I guess this is just a pain keeping the things working?
I rented in 5 different places before buying our place, and do work for a number of landlords, and have never heard of not supplying a fridge or washing machine, whether furnished and non-furnished. things like dishwashers may also be expected at certain market points.I guess this is just a pain keeping the things working?
you'd be severely restricting yourself in terms of tenant for starters.
Rhodr1 said:
Some good tips above. Don't forget to notify your council that you are going to be vacating the property, and it's going to be empty until you find a tenant. Pointless you forking out for council tax whilst the property is vacant.
AFAIK a discount is no longer automatic. https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/second-homes-and-em...Sorry if I've missed it, but you'd need to notify your household insurance company of it being empty as well as the change of use.
If you have more than one gas appliance, you'll need co meters for each, I believe. You may need an extinguisher and blanket in the kitchen too. The agent should be on top of all that.
hairyben said:
I rented in 5 different places before buying our place, and do work for a number of landlords, and have never heard of not supplying a fridge or washing machine, whether furnished and non-furnished. things like dishwashers may also be expected at certain market points.
you'd be severely restricting yourself in terms of tenant for starters.
Nope. Fridge and washing machine optional. However IF you provide them then you have to replace/repair them if they break down. you'd be severely restricting yourself in terms of tenant for starters.
Sticks. said:
If you have more than one gas appliance, you'll need co meters for each, I believe. You may need an extinguisher and blanket in the kitchen too. The agent should be on top of all that.
To clarify, you don't NEED coin meters (and certainly not for each appliance). Extinguishers are only needed for HMOs.Countdown said:
hairyben said:
I rented in 5 different places before buying our place, and do work for a number of landlords, and have never heard of not supplying a fridge or washing machine, whether furnished and non-furnished. things like dishwashers may also be expected at certain market points.
you'd be severely restricting yourself in terms of tenant for starters.
Nope. Fridge and washing machine optional. However IF you provide them then you have to replace/repair them if they break down. you'd be severely restricting yourself in terms of tenant for starters.
I've rented places with no curtains, in fact one place that didn't actually have a fitted kitchen, that still had a fridge and washer.
Countdown said:
Sticks. said:
If you have more than one gas appliance, you'll need co meters for each, I believe. You may need an extinguisher and blanket in the kitchen too. The agent should be on top of all that.
To clarify, you don't NEED coin meters (and certainly not for each appliance). Extinguishers are only needed for HMOs.hairyben said:
I never said they were an obligation, just that it'd be unusual and detrimental not to supply them. The typical renter is not going to want to faff about sourcing and potentially having to move on white goods on a place they've got a 1 year lease on. Thats rubbish you worry about when owning, you rent for convenience.
I've rented places with no curtains, in fact one place that didn't actually have a fitted kitchen, that still had a fridge and washer.
Fair enough. I've not provided them as part of Any tenancy. they just inherited what the previous tenants left. To be fair most of my tenants are long termers and always intended to be.I've rented places with no curtains, in fact one place that didn't actually have a fitted kitchen, that still had a fridge and washer.
2.5pi said:
Only bad muppet landlords behave like this, it is very easy for a prospective tenant to spot them;
Property will be in bad order, in a dodgy area , initial contact will be way too casual and badly organised with a few poor excuses thrown in.
As a tenant run like the wind unless you are a crap tenant in which case congratulations you've met your perfect landlord
sorry, been around the game too long . The chances are a tenant will never meet a landlord until they have signed and paid up. letting agents (who lie all the time) want to know everything about a tenant but as the tenant is paying how come they get to know SFA about the landlord? !! Property will be in bad order, in a dodgy area , initial contact will be way too casual and badly organised with a few poor excuses thrown in.
As a tenant run like the wind unless you are a crap tenant in which case congratulations you've met your perfect landlord
I really have though about creating a "Bad landlord "internet site , where tenants can tell and show their side of the story for anyone to search and read etc
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff