Commencing Tenancy

Right to Rent Must check all occupiers have the right to remain:- Before allowing an adult to live in your property, check that they have document(s) that show they have the right to be in the UK. – Where a person’s right to be in the UK will expire during the...

The majority of lets will conform to the requirements of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST). Some will not and will be Common Law Tenancies. A few old ones (before 15 Jan 1989) are Regulated Tenancies. AST An Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST is automatically in place...

Documents that must be served on all tenants prior to occupation:- – Energy Performance Certificate – check the register  for a copy.– Right to Remain on all prospective occupants of the property;– gas inspection report – CP12;– ‘How to Rent’ booklet.  Note – be...

When setting the initial rent it can be useful to look at the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates for similar properties. Go to the Valuation Officer (VOA) site (used to the Rent Officer). Put in the post code, and submit. Then click on ‘List of Rents’ to view a graph...

Allowable Fees Since June 1st 2020 all AST’s are severely limited on the fees that can be charged to tenants. Note that this applies to landlords and agents. Summary Limit tenancy deposits to five weeks’ rent (6 weeks’ for rents > £50k) Limit holding deposits...

Inventories If you propose to charge the tenant anything at the end of the tenancy (within the terms of the Tenants Fee Act  it must be stated in the AST that a charge might be made, and you must be able to prove the claim. Whether it goes to court, or adjudication,...

If you take a deposit for all AST’s you must:- Protect the deposit with an approved scheme, and Give tenant and all interested parties the prescribed information about their deposit and the deposit scheme. Within 30 calendar days of physically receiving it (from April...