Did you know we can take the burden out of preparing your property from you? At Richard James, we are happy to prepare everything needed to ensure that your tenants are moved in safely and legally. We cross all of the T’s and dot all of the I’s and let you relax, by keeping it simple!
We have listed the top 5 steps below…
1. MAKE SURE YOUR PROPERTY IS SAFE:
You, as the Landlord, have a duty to keep your tenants safe, failure to do so could lead to hefty fines or even a lengthy prison sentence. Recent legislation requires you to install a smoke alarm on every floor, provide a current gas safety certificate and ensure that the electrical installations and appliances are safe. These are just a handful of safety regulations that must be adhered to.
We ensure that the above is carried out and in place before your tenant checks-in so that you don’t have to.
2. CARRY OUT AN 'IMMIGRATION RIGHT TO RENT' CHECK:
As of 1st February 2016, the pre-tenancy process incorporates the Right to Rent scheme, which requires that you check whether prospective tenants have the legal right to rent in the UK.
You will be liable to carry out the checks yourself or request a letting agent to do the work on your behalf. Those that are found not to be carrying out these essential checks could be fined up to £3,000 per tenant.
We will always check the immigration status of any prospective tenants before or during the referencing stage to protect you from the above penalties.
3. REFERENCE YOUR TENANTS:
Tenant referencing has become an integral part of minimising the risk of letting a property as it provides landlords with the opportunity to make an informed decision about who rents their property. A tenant reference usually includes the tenant’s basic information as well as previous or current employment details, addresses, bank statements, verified income and a reference from their current landlord, if applicable.
We provide a comprehensive tenant referencing service, which means we fully reference any prospective tenants. We can also offer a Rent Guarantee Service (subject to T&C’s).
4. ENSURE THE PROPERTY IS CLEAN:
This might sound obvious, but it’s something that could get overlooked in a rush to get tenants in situ. A clean, attractive home will be much more appealing to new tenants, so it’s vitally important that your rental property is thoroughly clean and tidy.
You should also remove any items of personal value or things that will be of no use to tenants. We also insist that tenants leave the property as clean as they found it.
We are happy to organise cleaning or removal of goods on your behalf, to ensure the property is looking its best.
5. CONDUCT AN INVENTORY:
One of the most important steps when it comes to letting a property is carrying out an inventory before and after a tenancy, which allows you to make sure everything’s accounted for. It also lessens the chances of a deposit dispute further down the line.
Always call on the expert assistance of a letting agent or an independent inventory clerk to make sure it’s done right.
Naturally, tenancy agreements and deposit protection go without saying.
We hope that this has helped you to gain an insight into the ‘top 5’ of the many jobs on a landlord’s pre-tenancy to-do list.
