Any landlords on here?

[flantheman82]

My wife works for a lettings agent in Belfast and had said the following :

The things you'll need to do are :
Obtain a gas safety certificate if the property has any gas appliances
If the property has oil, get the boiler serviced
If you are leaving any portable appliances in the property, eg kettle,toaster, tv Etc get them tested
As previously said if letting to 3 or more unrelated people's obtain a HMO license
If the property is built before 1945 you will also need to get a certificate of fitness from the local council. This costs £50 and lasts for ten years.

Make sure all references are obtained inc previous landlord and employer references. Some landlords insist on gettig a guarantor referenced.

Before a tenant moves in, make sure either you or the agent take a detailed inventory and schedule of condition. Making sure you photograph everything. Get the tenants to sign this on move in day. Make a copy of all keys given to the new tenants and make sure this is signed too.

The tenants also need to get a copy of the tenancy agreement and a rent book but your agent should provide this.

Also recommend to do quarterly visits and if your managing it yourself bring the inventory with you and cross reference against it!

Good luck!!

[Rois]

Thank you for that - all of those in hand apart from the fifith on the list.  It's the HMO requirements that I need to get nailed down.  I've no doubt the agent will help. 
I am only leaving washing machine, dishwasher, fridge and freezer.
Thankfully house built in 2007 so I have fire resistant doors, proper compliant fire windows on each floor, proper smoke alarm etc, enough WCs. 

I have guarantor information to get references but will be OK as long as previous landlord and employer refs check out, which agent is in process of doing. 

[Denn Forever]

Is it a HMO (home of multiple occupancy)?  I thought to be a HMO, each person would have a separate rental agreements?

[Rois]

Is it a HMO (home of multiple occupancy)?  I thought to be a HMO, each person would have a separate rental agreements?

Agent is getting four different agreements.  I asked if it was possible to get two agreements or just one to avoid HMO.  Agent kind of avoided the question. 

[T Fearon]

Advice you needed came directly from a Lettings Agent.I shall give my case some respite!

[Rois]

Advice you needed came directly from a Lettings Agent.I shall give my case some respite!

Not really - still don't know about emergency lighting - as I said above, it is the HMO stuff I need to sort.

[Minder]

Any idea where I stand whereby my tenant wants me to cut the hedges in th back garden.

It wouldn't be a particulay onerous task but would that be my responsibility ? The request has come through the estate agent that is supposed to be managing the letting for me.

[laoislad]

Give him a lend of a hedge trimmer and let the lazy cnut do it himself.
Unless your tenant is a hot woman.. Then I'll be over in half an hour.

[Tony Baloney]

Any idea where I stand whereby my tenant wants me to cut the hedges in th back garden.

It wouldn't be a particulay onerous task but would that be my responsibility ? The request has come through the estate agent that is supposed to be managing the letting for me.

I would say they weren't cut too often when you were in it.

[macdanger2]

Any idea where I stand whereby my tenant wants me to cut the hedges in th back garden.

It wouldn't be a particulay onerous task but would that be my responsibility ? The request has come through the estate agent that is supposed to be managing the letting for me.

What does your lease mention about garden maintenance? If there's nothing about it, then it's his problem

[Over the Bar]

....but you should supply a lawnmower.   Rois make sure you place deposits with a registered deposit agency.  Also you need to explicitly write into the agreement under what circumstances part deposits may be withheld otherwise you won't be able to do so.   

[Rois]

....but you should supply a lawnmower.   Rois make sure you place deposits with a registered deposit agency.  Also you need to explicitly write into the agreement under what circumstances part deposits may be withheld otherwise you won't be able to do so.

lol thanks - two years late though! 

[Dinny Breen]

Give him a lend of a hedge trimmer and let the lazy cnut do it himself.
Unless your tenant is a hot woman.. Then I'll be over in half an hour.

I'd say you've trimmed a few hedges in your time...