Property Training

We have been in the property business for many years and have a broad range of knowledge between us. Whether you need advice on your responsibilities and obligations as a landlord or are thinking of developing some land or property, give us a call and see if we can help.

As a successful landlord, you need to be able to carry out many tasks.

• Tenancy contracts that stand up in court

The Housing Act 1988, revised in 1996, aimed to improve the rights of both landlord and tenant and to make letting property more appealing. The Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) was introduced and is now the most commonly used type of tenancy agreement. Typically an AST is for 6 months but this can vary.

We can advise on the following:  

• Why you need one
• Tailoring an AST for you and your property requirements
• The best terms to protect you, your property  and your tenant
• The legal obligations on you and your tenant
• Changing terms of an AST

 

• Energy Performance Certificates (once every 10 years)

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) gives information on the energy efficiency of buildings. Do you understand what requirements you have to legally fulfil?

We can advise on the following: 

• Your legal responsibility
• How to read/interpret and actions you can take
• How to obtain one
• The impacts it could have on rentability

 

• Gas Safety Certificate (every year)

Landlords are charged under several laws to maintain and service any gas appliance provided as part of the tenancy agreement. Do you, as a landlord, understand what your responsibilities are regarding gas safety? Do you understand the implications of failing to maintain any gas appliances?

  We can advise on the following:

• Your legal obligations
• Who to contact to get a certificate
• Frequency required by law

• Electrical Safety Certificates soon to be compulsory with PAT required now

Landlords are responsible for ensuring that the electrical system and any electrical appliances that they supply are safe to use. Do you, as a landlord, understand what is currently required? Do you know who to contact for the correct certification?

 We can advise on the following:

• Your legal obligations
• Who to contact to get a certificate
• Frequency required by law

• Protection of the tenant’s deposit

The Housing Act defines a tenancy deposit as  ‘…any money intended to be held (by the landlord or otherwise) as security for:

a) the performance of any obligations of the tenant; or

b) the discharge of any liability of his;  arising under or in connection with the tenancy’.

If a landlord or letting agent receives any money from a tenant, which is not for a rent payment, even if it is not referred to as a ‘deposit’, the money has to be registered with a Deposit Protection Scheme.

 We can advise on the following:

• Scheme available for deposit protection
• Legal requirements

• Ensure that prospective tenants are credit worthy

As a landlord you will want reliable tenants that pay the agreed rent and on time. How do you check out some-one you have potentially met for the first time?

We can advise on the following:

• Scheme available for credit checking
• Whether to use an agent and the implications
• What checks you need to undertake
• What documents you will need to hold for the tenancy

• Understand what value a guarantor provides

By having a guarantor, the landlord ensures that if the tenant is unable to meet rent payments or other requirements of the tenancy agreement, the guarantor will do so.

We can advise on the following:

• Who is a suitable guarantor
• When you need or should use  a guarantor
• Guarantors responsibilities to you

 

• Suitable insurance to protect you from bad tenants

There are companies who can provide insurance policies for landlords. Insurance can be taken for missed rent payments and tenants who fail to abide by the terms of the tenancy agreement.

We can advise on the following:

• What insurance is available
• What is suitable for your circumstances
• When insurance is prudent

• Understand the requirements of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in your area

HMO is a term used to describe occupation that involves sharing part of the accommodation. It applies to both bedsit style housing and shared housing where a group of people who are not related share a house or flat. Are you considering owning an HMO? Do you know what is required to obtain a licence?

We can advise on the following:

• Does the property conform to local requirements
• Why licensing is required
• Who issues the license
• How to apply
• Your legal obligations and implications

• The difference between Section 8 and Section 21 notices and when to use each

The Housing Act 1988, revised in 1996 provides several sections that can be used by a landlord to regain possession of their property. Do you understand what section can be used for what purpose? Are you aware of the time frames to be legally used with serving a section notice?

We can advise on the following:

• What section to use for a given circumstance
• When you need to serve  the section
• Why you need to serve the section
• What ‘grounds’ to use

 

• Keep up to date with the various creative financing arrangements that are now available

 

• Do you understand  Lease Options and how they are a win-win for both buyer and seller
• Account for the expenses and income for your property
• Understand your tax liabilities under the various business umbrellas that you could operate
• Does your accountant throw his hands in the air when you present your accounts to him?
• Do you waste time looking for Below Market Value properties?
• Do you know how to value properties in these uncertain times?
• How do you stop a Valuer from spoiling your deal?

 

• If you have a plumbing problem at your property, do you know who to call?

All properties stuffer from breakdowns , from time to time. Do you, as a landlord, have reliable contractors to call upon? Can you be assured that all repairs are completed in a legally required way?

We can advise on the following:

• Competent contractors
• What is your responsibility and what is your tenants

• Do you know how to avoid deposit disputes at the end of a tenancy?

When the tenancy agreement has ended, provided the landlord and tenant agree on the amount of deposit to be refunded, the Deposit Scheme will refund the money. But if there is a disagreement over any of the terms this can lead to a dispute.

We can advise on the following:

• Understanding the terms of the AST
• The tenants obligations to the return of a property
• Information you need if a dispute occurs

• Who carries out your inventory? Are you satisfied with what they produce for the fee?

Whether renting out a furnished or unfurnished property, an inventory is protection for both yourself and your tenant.

We can advise on the following:

• What an inventory should contain
• Who can raise the inventory
• Tenants obligations to the inventory

• How often do you visit your properties?

Having let your property fulfills the landlord requirements. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to service the need as a property owner.

We can advise on the following:

• Legal requirements for visiting a let property
• Frequency recommended
• What to look for whilst visiting
• Your tenants obligations to a visit

• Do you know the procedure to evict a tenant?

Whilst no one relishes the prospect of having to evict a tenant, unfortunately these situations can arise. Do you, as a landlord, understand under what circumstances you can legally evict a tenant? Do you understand the legal requirements to successfully evict a tenant?

We can advise on the following:

• Circumstances that you can legal evict
• The documentation  required to legally evict a tenant and the timeframes
• When you need to involve the courts
• What you will require if the courts are involved