Letting - Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for repairs?
Under existing legislation landlords are responsible for all repairs to the property and its contents, except when a repair is necessary due to a tenants misuse. If we are managing a property we will contact you and give you the option of us arranging for the work to be carried out by one of our approved contractors or give you the opportunity of using a contractor of your choice.
What should I do about insurance?
Landlords are responsible for insuring their Buildings and own contents. Tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents.
Do I need to tell my Mortgage Company?
If your property is mortgaged you will be required to notify them before you let. In most cases consent is given readily, however, it is worth checking with your lender their criteria, as in some instances there may be a small administration fee charged.
Who looks after the exterior maintenance?
External decorations and general maintenance of the property is the responsibility of the landlord. If there is a garden, the up keep is the tenants responsibility.
Should I let my property furnished or unfurnished?
The choice is yours, there is sufficient demand for both furnished and unfurnished properties. All properties should still have the standard white goods such as a fridge freezer and cooker. The degree of how much a property is furnished is up to you, although, a furnished property would consist of beds, sofas, dining room table and chairs, wardrobes and white goods as previously mentioned, but does not necessarily include linen, cutlery and crockery. We would advise that landlords do not leave any personal effects at the property. The landlord should also be flexible that if we find a tenant that does not require some items in a furnished property then they can be removed.
How long will it take to find a tenant?
In general the process of letting a property is very quick, in most cases we would expect a property to be on the market no longer than a couple of weeks. Many properties are let within a few days of us being instructed, dependent on market conditions. If a property is not let within the above timescale it can be that either the rent is too high, there may be more appealing properties on the market or as stated the general market conditions are influencing the let. Whatever the reasons our fully trained staff will be able to advise you on the best course of action to take so that your property is rented.
How long is a typical let?
Most landlords require it to be a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of a year initially, this will be down to individual landlords and will be discussed before occupation.
If you would like to find out what the rental value of your property is and how we can find you a suitable tenant call our office now on 01202 303044.