Why landlords must get themselves in gear for Right to Rent

Your minds may be awash with all things Christmas, but post-festivities, one of the biggest things that will be on landlords' minds will be ensuring that they are ready for the Right to Rent scheme.

Part of the Immigration Act 2014, the Right to Rent scheme – which requires landlords or their agents to check the immigration status of prospective tenants – was originally implemented across the West Midlands.

After this initial pilot project, the government announced in October that the scheme will be rolled out nationwide, meaning landlords in southern UK locations such as Portsmouth and Southampton, which estate and letting agent Chimneypots Estate Agents operate in, will have to comply.

Right to Rent requires landlords or their letting agents to check the immigration status of any adult who is about to or is currently living in one of the landlord’s rental properties.

The purpose of the scheme is to ensure that all tenants are authorised to rent in the UK. Ways of checking the tenants vary, but a passport, birth certificate or an identity card are likely to be the most common identification documents used.

This new law is set to come into force on February 1^st, and applies to all residential tenancies. It’s important for landlords to be aware not only of the adults living in the property, but to be wary of any children who could be about to turn 18 and therefore become classed as an adult living in the property. 

At the moment, February 1st may seem way off. However, landlords are being advised that checks begin to be completed 28 days before the February deadline to allow for any hiccups.

Therefore, ensuring you implement the checks into your routine within good time should be your number one New Year's resolution. Getting the right documents and making sure that they are verified and that you have copies takes time, so get cracking!

Failure to complete these crucial checks won’t just lead to a slap on the wrist, either. There will be serious consequences for landlords that don’t comply. Any offending landlords could receive a fine of up to £3,000 per illegal tenant living in their property. For repeat offenders, criminal action may also be taken.

When letting a property is done well, it’s a highly profitable venture; so ensure you don’t lose out by failing to complete these checks accurately.

A lot of responsibility now lies with landlords, and if this sounds like a lot of extra work then don’t fear. Landlords are able to hand the responsibility of the Right to Rent checks over to their local letting agent such as Chimneypots.

If this is something that interests you, it’s crucial that a written agreement is constructed between the two parties so that the area of responsibility is crystal clear.

At Chimneypots, we’re a team of property experts who are skilled in obtaining this kind of data quickly and accurately. If you would like us to take charge of this part of the rental process, then get in touch with us today.

If you have any questions regarding any part of the letting process, then we’re also on-hand to help.

We also offer landlords the chance to find out just how much rent they could earn from their property with our free instant online valuation, try it today! 

http://chimneypotsestateagent.co.uk/why-landlords-must-get-themselves-in-gear-for-right-to-rent/

How to keep a Southampton or Portsmouth rental property in check this winter

With winter nearly here, it’s more important than ever for landlords to keep their rental properties in check. Homes that are in good condition make for happy tenants, which is what every landlord is striving for.

After all, satisfied tenants are more likely to stay for the long-term, ensuring that those dreaded void periods can be swerved.

  

Keeping your property in tip-top condition can become more difficult when winter strikes, though. The temperature drops a few degrees, the average rainfall increases and the likelihood of adverse weather conditions is much higher.

Below, using our experience as estate agents working in Southampton, Portsmouth and across the south of England, we outline some of the things you can do to keep any issues at bay.

Prevent any clogs

At this time of the year, drains and gutters are much more susceptible to becoming clogged by leaves or other items. They might also be weakened by heavy rain, so it’s important to act early to prevent more costly work having to be carried out at a later date.

Make your home look fresh

Winter can have an effect on outside paintwork, which could give off an unsightly battered and bruised look to your rental property. Tenants want to be house-proud, something that is less likely if the outside of the place they call home doesn’t look up to scratch.

Also, if you are trying to occupy your home with tenants, then giving the outside of your home a quick lick of paint could be very beneficial. Other small things, like trimming the hedge or making sure the driveway looks ship-shape, could also help your cause.

Keep damp away

Damp can be a major problem in the colder months. Not only does it look unsightly, it can also cause longer-term problems that will cost landlords more over time. Preventative maintenance, to make sure damp doesn’t become a longer-term issue, would be a wise move.

This can include things like asking your tenants to turn on the bathroom fan when they have a shower, as well as opening the window for a while after. You can also ask them to cover boiling liquids in the kitchen and dry clothes outdoors, weather permitting.

Making sure your walls are properly insulated, increasing ventilation in your property (not so easy in the colder months, granted, but it will help to limit moisture from spreading other areas of the house) and heating your property effectively are other ways of keeping damp at bay.

Stop pipes from freezing

A cold snap can massively increase the chances of pipes bursting or freezing. Keeping the heating on, running cold water regularly and draining outside taps where possible will all help to prevent this nightmare scenario from occurring. This is particularly important if your property is unoccupied over the winter months. If you don’t have tenants in place, make sure you do all you can to prevent frozen or burst pipes. It’s not worth taking a risk in this case.

If you want more info about keeping your rental property in check this winter, please get in contact with ChimneyPots on 01489 584298. Additionally, you can find out how much rent you could be charging in the current marketplace by checking out our free instant online valuation tool. 

http://chimneypotsestateagent.co.uk/how-to-keep-a-southampton-or-portsmouth-rental-property-in-check-this-winter/