Landlords have many health and safety obligations. One of these includes carrying out Legionella risk assessments.
But, many landlords are still in the dark about how to go about this.
What is Legionella? What harm can it cause? Should you carry it out yourself, or hire a professional?
Here’s a closer look at the importance of a Legionella risk assessment.
What is Legionella?
Firstly, it’s important to identify the cause of the issue. Many of us, including landlords, are unaware of what Legionella is, let alone what harm it can cause.
Legionella is a type of bacteria found in water systems, such as pipes, as well as central heating systems and air conditioning units.
What Harm Can Legionella Cause?
The bacterium causes Legionnaires’ disease, which is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia.
The bacterium presents a threat to anyone, however those who smoke or suffer from existing health conditions, such as heart disease or a weakened immune system, are particularly at risk.
Legionella can also cause Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever, which also pose health risks.
Therefore, it’s easy to see why, when it comes to Legionnaires’ disease, landlords need to take it seriously.
Where Can It Be Found?
Legionella can be found naturally in freshwater, such as rivers. However, when found here, it rarely causes humans any harm.
But, when found in man-made water systems, conditions such as maintained temperature allow the bacteria to grow rapidly.
It can then become airborne, for example in water vapour or mist.
How Can You Get Infected?
People get infected with Legionnaires’ disease by inhaling the droplets of water containing Legionella.
Recirculated or stored water is particularly at risk from developing the bacteria.
What is the Law Surrounding Legionella Testing?
In 2014, the Health and Safety Work Act 1974 was revised to include testing of Legionella in all domestic properties.
While the risk in domestic properties is less compared to public buildings, such as businesses, an assessment still needs to be carried out by all duty holders.
But, landlords can do this themselves unless they feel uncomfortable or are unsure how it’s done. As it’s one of the most important landlord’s responsibilities, it’s recommended to seek professional help when undertaking the Legionella assessment.
If a landlord does choose to carry out the Legionella test themselves, they need to provide evidence of this and show proof of their findings.
Failure to comply can result in a serious fine.
How Can You Control Legionella?
There are many ways you can control and prevent the spread of Legionella. These include:
• Replacing or removing any faulty or needless pipework
• Preventing any dirt from entering the water system, for example by fitting a tight lid
• Flushing the water system between each tenancy
• Ensuring the temperature of any water tanks are set high enough (60°C is the optimum temperature, while 20°C- 45°C are often the right conditions to develop the bacteria)
• Make sure water cannot stagnate anywhere in the system
• Treat the water to control growth of any bacteria
As the landlord, the responsibility of Legionella testing lies with you, whether you use a professional or do it yourself, to identify any risks and deal with them accordingly.
What is the Responsibility of the Tenants?
Your tenants do not have to keep your property free from Legionella. However, it’s important to inform them of the risks so that they can help reduce them.
You tenants should be:
• Cleaning shower heads regularly
• Not changing the temperature of the water systems once you have set them
• Informing you if they find debris in the water
• Telling you if the water system isn’t working
• Telling you if the hot water temperature is too low
• Turning on any less frequently used water systems at least once a week
However, while tenants can play their part, the responsibility falls with the duty holder. This is where property visits come in.
While landlord inspections are essential for many reasons, such as checking on the wear and tear of the property, they’re also beneficial for health and safety purposes.
The Dangers with Vacant Properties
Void periods between tenancies are a nightmare for landlords for a variety of reasons. But, losing rent isn’t the only concern.
Extra attention needs to be paid to the water systems of vacant properties, as the water will stagnate more easily.
For example, if your property is rented out to students and is empty during the summer, you’ll need to schedule regular visits to run the water. If the property is vacant for prolonged periods of time, it may be necessary to drain the water system completely.
Always flush the water system before new tenants move in.
Evidently, Legionella tests are vital. To take the stress and hassle out of carrying out one yourself, as well as ensuring it’s done correctly, we recommend using our professional Legionella risk assessment service. We’ll ensure your property is safe and that you’re compliant with regulations. These form part of the many services we offer for landlords and letting agents. Find out more about our property services here.
Startling figures released by the Home Office have shed light on the true scale of measures taken against non-compliance to the government’s Right to Rent scheme. Since 2016, over 400 fines have been handed out, at a total value of £265,000. It’s clear that Right to Rent checks have never been more important for landlords and letting agents.
What is the Right to Rent Scheme?
Introduced in February 2016, the Right to Rent scheme requires landlords and letting agents to ensure the occupier of their property has the right to remain (and rent) in the UK.
This is an all-encompassing legal requirement which also applies to private landlords or those letting to lodgers. If the tenant is found to be illegally living in the UK, those letting the property are liable for a fine of up to £3,000 per tenant.
405 Fines in 2 Years
The Home Office have issued 405 fines for non-compliance of the Right to Rent scheme since 2016. Of these fines, the average (£654 per tenant) is significantly lower than the maximum fine amount, though altogether a total of £265,000 has been paid by non-compliant landlords and letting agents.
Since the scheme’s inception, the busiest periods for fines issued falls between April and September 2017 where a total of 151 fines were issued.
A Controversial Scheme
Many are unhappy about the Right to Rent scheme. Chris Norris from the National Landlord Association explains: “It’s important to remember that landlords are neither immigration experts nor border agents… The Right to Rent scheme has placed an additional cost on an already pressurised sector”.
The Guardian documents that 11,300 checks are made each day in England, “but the proven benefits are limited – and the damage is very real”.
The same article partly attributes homelessness among refugees in the UK to the need to wait many weeks for documents to prove the right to a tenancy.
While the additional costs to landlords is another great talking point in the industry. It’s believed that the added work required by landlords to fulfil these checks totals an eye watering £4.7million per year.
We Have the Answer
As part of No Letting Go’s Check In procedures, we can verify the documentation required for the Right to Rent scheme. We can also warrant that these match the tenant’s appearance.
Lisa Williamson, Business Development Director for No Letting Go adds, “we have worked successfully with both letting agents and landlords across the UK since February 2016 to ensure that Right to Rent documentation complies with this legislation. Our bespoke reports clearly confirm that the tenant’s original identification documents appear to be genuine and are a true likeness. With the tenant’s permission we also photograph them holding their photographic ID as further evidence that they are a true representation. This service has proved invaluable to agents and landlords who have not had the opportunity to personally meet the tenant/s prior to their occupation of the property.”
There is no need to let the Right to Rent scheme become a stressor in your letting process. Avoid the fines and the hassle by using No Letting Go. Explore our full list of services here.
No Letting Go are proud to support the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) in their bid for mandatory inventories for all private residential tenancies. An independent inventory ensures there’s no room for ambiguity during the check-in and check-out procedures – this dramatically reduces the number of deposit disputes.
Evidence of Fulfilled Landlord Obligations
We would like to go a step further. There are some health and safety requirements no landlord can ignore! We feel inventories should be combined with compliance reporting. A detailed inventory at the start and end of a tenancy can act as a crucial document which acts as evidence of a landlord fulfilling their health and safety obligations.
The report could also work as evidence of a landlord complying with:
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations 2015
- Fire and furnishing safety regulations 1988
A Duty of Care
Nick Lyons, CEO of No Letting Go spoke to Landlord Today regarding the topic:
“Independent inventory providers have a duty of care to protect the interests of both landlords and tenants alike. The government has introduced legislation to protect tenants but with no real effective means to monitor it.
“The introduction of a compulsory combined inventory and compliance report for all let properties compiled by trained, independent professionals will help ensure that landlords meet their legal responsibilities and assist the government and trading standards to police the landlord’s requirement to protect tenants.”
Why Is the Petition Important?
The petition is being put forward by the AIIC. This is to encourage the government to introduce mandatory inventory reporting as part of its ongoing plans to increase regulation in the Private Rented Sector.
The AIIC sees mandatory independent inventory reporting as the next step from the 2007 introduction of compulsory tenancy deposit protection. This is because there’s not been additional legislation concerning the documents or evidence needed to resolve deposit disputes.
Danny Zane, joint chair of the AIIC explains:
“With this in mind, regulating independent inventories really is a no-brainer for the government. An independent and professionally compiled inventory offers protection to both tenants and landlord and can prove invaluable in the event of a tenancy deposit dispute.”
Irrelevant of whether mandatory independent inventory reporting becomes a legal requirement, there is still an abundance of benefits for landlords, letting agents and tenants. An independent body like No Letting Go can take the hassle and strain out of the process while dramatically cutting down on disputes. Find out more about how we can help your inventory process here.
Stop, breathe and don’t panic. If you can’t afford rent, it can feel like your whole world is about to come crashing down. Don’t stress, you’re not going to be living on the streets. There are plenty of genuine reasons why you could be short this month. How you handle this situation has a huge impact on your future in your current rental. Here’s what you need to know and how to resolve the issue.
Manage Your Budget
If you’re likely to be short of money, the first thing to do is to look at your budget. What money have you got coming in and what money do you have to pay out? Is there any possibility of offering a partial payment to your landlord?
Rent is far more important than a new haircut or the expensive steak dinner you’re planning. If there are any opportunities to cut down your expenditure, do it. Unfortunately, this can be more difficult than it sounds. Sometimes tough sacrifices have to be made. It’s important to ensure you have enough money to actually survive. Food and everyday essentials come first.
If you’ve drawn up a full budget and you definitely can’t afford to pay your rent, it’s time to talk to your landlord.
Communication is Key
The worst thing you can do is ignore the issue. It’s always unpleasant to explain to someone that you can’t make a payment. Forget your pride and be honest. Explain the situation.
When explaining to your landlord that you can’t afford rent, there is some vital information they need to know:
- Why can’t you pay the rent?
- When can the landlord expect their money?
- How can you work together to resolve the issue?
Remember, landlords are people too. They will understand if you’ve fallen on hard times, it’s better to be open and honest. Depending on the landlord, their reaction will vary. Don’t stress, they can’t immediately evict you. There is a formal process in place for this type of issue.
What Happens Next?
Depending on how your conversation with the landlord went, there may be a simple resolution already in place. No matter what happens, expect to receive a formal demand letter from the landlord. This letter will request payment from you and make it clear that legal action is a possibility. Don’t panic, this is normal. This is a formal procedure the landlord is putting in place in case you continually fail to make payment.
Guarantor Letters
If you still haven’t paid 14 days after the rent is due, the landlord can send a letter to your guarantor (if you have one). Again, communication with your guarantor is vital. You may be able to seek help from a close friend or loved one. Don’t let your guarantor be surprised by your rent arrears.
Section 8 Notice
If you’ve gone a month without paying and a second payment is due, you officially have two months of rent arrears. This means the landlord (under the Housing Act 1988) can apply to reclaim their property. They can serve a Section 8 Notice which is a formal notification that the landlord wishes to take you to court if you don’t pay the arrears within the next 14 days.
Losing Your Deposit
This may seem obvious but if you have rent arrears, the landlord can legally keep your deposit. This may not recover all the owed rent but it could be helpful if you’re entirely unable to make payment.
A Word of Advice
We know that finances can be a huge burden at times. Unpredictable situations can turn your life upside down. Debt is a hugely challenging issue for many people. Don’t struggle on your own. There are plenty of debt charities like StepChange out there who can help put you back on course. If you’re struggling to talk to your landlord about arrears, they can help.
Being open and honest with your landlord about your financial issues can make you feel a lot better about the situation. You may even be able to avoid those sleepless nights. Remember, landlords don’t want the hassle of taking you to court or evicting you. Try to come to an amicable resolution that keeps all parties happy.
No Letting Go’s Inventory Services
Have you struggled with landlords over deposit disputes? Don’t have the same issue in the future. No Letting Go’s inventory services can help. We offer a full, professional and impartial check-in and check-out procedure to ensure a hassle-free inventory process. Find out more about how we can help you.
Being a landlord is tough, busy and time consuming work. Thankfully though, there’s plenty of new technology out there that can make life easier for the average UK landlord. It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to choosing the best mobile apps. And how can you be sure these apps will make your profession any easier? What are the best apps for landlords?
From local landlord inventory services to helpful communication software (and everything in between) the market is huge. So here’s our pick of the best apps worth trying. Think we’ve missed something off the list? Get in touch on Twitter and tell us your thoughts.
The Landlord App
The name really says it all. The Landlord App basically offers a comprehensive selection of features to help landlords operate and manage their businesses more effectively. From finding new tenants to scheduling utility bill payments, it can even help with chasing payments owed as well as much more. Coming highly recommended by the vast majority of landlord inventory services in the UK, this is app is worth a try.
DIY Landlord
By landlords, for landlords. DIY Landlord allows the user to keep track of all their current rented properties. Offering key financial information like cash flow and rental payments, the app’s main dashboard will become a sight for sore eyes. If you’ve got a large property portfolio, this app will save you significant time, stress and worry.
Scanbot
Ideal for keeping track of your most important documents, Scanbot allows the user to create high quality JPEG or PDF copies of documents in a matter of seconds. From contracts to receipts to invoices and so on. Simply use your smartphone’s camera to instantly scan and record your documents. Copies are saved in excess of 200dpi for outstanding quality and the app does a great job of reducing motion blur.
Mobile Landlord
Forget the filing cabinet of paperwork, the Mobile Landlord app covers everything. Create a profile for up to five properties and keep all relevant information in one place. From tenancy details and expenditure to key trade contacts, this app covers it all. You can even set key reminders like updating the Gas Safety Certificate.
Rightmove
The Rightmove app takes everything the market-leading online estate agency offers and slips it into your pocket. It’s one of the best and most important apps you’ll find for keeping an eye on local markets and assessing property values/rent averages. Advice on property research and staying on the pulse of the property market could even help you negotiate a house price. It can also be a fantastic app to use if you plan on using Rightmove to advertise your property.
Tenancy Agreement
Let’s face it, tenancy agreements are some of the more tedious parts of the job. With the Tenancy Agreement app, you can create a professional tenancy agreement on your smartphone in a timely and hassle free manner.
Home Decorating Ideas
Interior design can be a confusing world! Especially for the uninitiated. If you’re a landlord crying out for inspiration, the Home Decorating Ideas app is on hand to help. Get free tips on interior design and save any snaps that take your fancy.
RenTracker Property Management
When you’re a landlord letting to various tenants, it can be difficult to keep track of all rent due dates and financial deadlines. RenTracker Property Management is here to help. This app tracks your finances including rent payments, expenses and taxes. It also gives you the opportunity to export your financial reports.
Ask A Lawyer
Got an important legal question to ask but don’t have the money or means to arrange a consultation. Ask a Lawyer is the answer. The app allows landlords to ask those burning questions about their business and receive expert answers and advice from qualified, experienced legal professionals. Best of all, it’s completely free!
Landlordy
Landlordy markets itself as the ultimate mobile companion for the DIY landlord, and it’s not hard to see why. With the ability to help you track rent payments, manage expenses and even prepare rent invoices you really should downloaded and use this app. It even gives you the option of exporting and sharing the data with your accountant, so that your finances are always up to date.
It sounds so simple but it’s often overlooked. Keep up-to-date with tenants with WhatsApp. If your property is a HMO, create a house group chat including all tenants. This will help resolve any internal issues and can even boost tenant moral (happy tenants are likely to stay in your property longer).
LetsHelpYou
Advertise your rental property to UK tenants for free on the LetsHelpYou app. With a smooth UX, this app allows you to upload images and key details of your property at speed.
Landlord Property Buddy
Ditch the complicated excel spreadsheets, Landlord Property Buddy has got your back. This app offers a full range of property management services and comes highly recommended. Offering assistance with income/expenditure, transaction reporting, reminders, document safekeeping as well as invoices and tenant details. This app helps manage the full landlord experience to make your life a little easier.
Fixflo
Fixflo is one of the best apps of its kind. It serves as a convenient and reliable method for reporting and recording minor to moderate maintenance issues. The tenant is able to describe the problem, take a picture of it with their device and send it straight to the landlord’s device. It can also be used to report things like graffiti and vandalism, dumped rubbish, abandoned vehicles and more.
Kaptur Inventory Pro
Designed by property inventory experts for busy professionals in the property sector, Kaptur is the very latest property information collecting tablet technology. This offers the most efficient way to collect, prepare, report and manage information. Find out more about how Kaptur Inventory Pro can help you here.
If you’re a landlord suffering with the headache of rental inventories, find out how No Letting Go can help.
They’re the stuff of nightmares, sleepless nights, endless worrying and a bucket load of stress. No landlord wants to be caught up in a rental void period. Unfortunately, they’re pretty common and easy to fall into. This can be really damaging to landlords with a smaller portfolio. Thankfully, there are a few simple tips you can implement to avoid them altogether. Here are our 8 tips for preventing void periods. If you know of any more that could help other landlords, get in touch on Twitter.
1. Properly Maintain Your Property
So, let’s get this one out the way early. There could be an underlying reason why no one wants to rent your property. Ensure everything’s tidy, clean and in a liveable condition. Bathrooms and kitchens are key selling points of your property – do they need any work? Would a quick renovation boost your chances of attracting new tenants? The appearance of your property matters.
2. Advertise Everywhere (and Early)
It’s surprising to some but landlords do require marketing skills. Especially if you’re privately renting, you need to be able to market your property. Advertise your property everywhere you can, from local newspapers to online sites. If you want to stay away from void periods as much as possible, it’s important to advertise your property as early as you can. Don’t wait till the house/flat has been vacated.
3. Charge Reasonable Rent
Don’t inflate the rent you’re charging for the sake of it. Do your research and find out the average rent for the area. Then question how your property compares to the area’s average. Above all, charge a fair rent. You may be tempted to undercut the area’s average rent to ensure your property is seen as more attractive. Be warned, this could change the type of tenant you let to. Consider a deal including amenities if you want to make your listing more appealing.
4. Pick Good Tenants
This is a tricky one but will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. If you can let to good tenants you’ll reduce the risk of sudden changes in circumstance. Unfortunately even the best tenants can have unpredictable lives and there’s no simple way to get around this. Also, it’s very tricky to tell which tenants are genuinely ‘good’. Screening checks don’t tell the full story. The best tenants are steady and secure in their careers and lives.
5. Be Open Minded
It’s always important to have an open mind with potential tenants. Whether they’re looking to redecorate parts of the property or live with a pet, you may not like it but it’s worth considering. A tenant with a pet is likely to be more stable. Whereas a tenant who wants to redecorate will likely see themselves in the property for an extended period of time.
6. Why Not Try a HMO?
If you rent in an area popular with students or young professionals, it may be worth considering turning your let into a house in multiple occupation. You’ll need to adhere to specific licence rules about health and safety but it’s nothing a reasonable landlord couldn’t keep up with. This way, when one tenant moves out, you’re still making money from the other occupants.
7. Upgrade Your Furniture
Back to what we said earlier about how appearance is everything. If you’re offering a furnished property, it may be worth making a few extra purchases. Upgrading furniture will give your property a new lease of life. It could be the difference between attracting new tenants or not.
8. Be Approachable and Professional
Whether you like it or not, as a landlord you could be the reason between a tenant taking your property or not. If you turn up to a house viewing late, wearing sandals and shorts you’ll look unprofessional. Dress well, be prompt, appear approachable and ensure the tenant knows you’re professional.
When you start renting, don’t neglect the importance of a full and accurate inventory. Remove the possibility of disputes with No Letting Go’s inventory services.
With so much of today’s property hunt taking place online, there’s a real opportunity for scammers to capitalise on unsuspecting tenants. Thankfully, users remain vigilant and sham lettings are well documented. If you’re on the property hunt, here are the common rental scams to avoid.
Gumtree Landlord Scam
This trap is aimed at those living overseas who seek accommodation in the UK. A landlord will publish an ad on Gumtree featuring accredited NLA (National Landlords Association) logos. They will discuss the property in question with the individual and request payment before they move to the UK. Upon arrival to the country, the landlord is nowhere to be seen.
This is a popular scam in the lettings sector. It can be entirely dismantled by asking to see the property first. If you’re looking to rent a room or flat, you have the right to view it before paying any kind of deposit. If you’d like to find out whether a landlord is a member of the National Landlords Association, you can do so here.
The Fake Property
This is a dangerous one which is really tough to notice at times. This scam involves the landlord going a step further than just advertising a property. The scammer will have access to an empty property which they’ll show you around. Unfortunately, the building isn’t actually theirs to rent out. By the time you come to move in, the property’s already occupied.
It can be really difficult to actually recognise this until it’s happened. It’s always important to be suspicious if the landlord is pressing for you to pay a security deposit/first month’s rent immediately.
Unsatisfactory References
Now this is a clever scam, which again is pretty difficult to spot. A tenant will go through the motions of renting a property and everything will appear legitimate. Coming to the reference check stage, the prospective tenant will sign a contract which says that if the references aren’t acceptable the deposit will be returned minus a fee for reference checks. This sounds reasonable – besides, you’ve got good references so don’t mind signing. Unfortunately, they’ll be deemed as unsatisfactory by the landlord. When you receive the deposit back, it’s a fraction of what you initially paid. If you’ve been bitten by this, it’s illegal and you have a right to be frustrated. Seek assistance immediately.
Going After the Guarantor
This is a particularly nasty one. The landlord will claim there’s no need for a security deposit. It sounds like a perfect situation – you just need to have a guarantor. When the tenancy comes to an end, the guarantor will be hit with a wave of unnecessary charges for repairs. This scam highlights the importance of inventory services.
Illegal Charges
Dodgy landlords are big fans of adding illegal charges to the tenancy agreement. Be wary of anything you sign your name to. If the charge is in your tenancy agreement and you sign it, you’re agreeing to pay. If you’re unsure whether a charge is necessary, do your research before signing. If a landlord tries to charge you for something which isn’t in the tenancy agreement, you don’t need to pay.
It’s Not All Dodgy Landlords
It’s a two sided coin – tenants can scam landlords too. One of the most common includes a tenant who asks to pay a deposit via Western Union or some other similar service. They pay too much ‘by mistake’ and ask the landlord to send the extra funds back. By this time, the landlord’s made the payment and the original payment has bounced. This leaves the landlord out of pocket and red faced. If you find yourself caught up in this, don’t pay any additional funds back until the initial payment clears/bounces.
What to Look Out For
It’s important to be vigilant when it comes to lettings scams. Here are a few warning signs to look out for:
- Free listings – scammers love sites like Gumtree which allow free listings. Always be extra wary of rentals advertised on these websites.
- Multiple ads for the same property – these can sometimes have slightly different descriptions or pictures.
- Poorly worded ads – does it read like it was written by someone who isn’t fluent in English?
- Unnecessary description of landlord – often scams will make the landlord sound respectable and fair. If this feels a little unnecessary, consider why this information is being communicated to you.
- Lettings agency with little online presence – sometimes scammers will create their own lettings agency to appear legitimate. Google the company and see what’s online about them.
- Very low price – it’s the age old saying; if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
- Pushy landlord – if the landlord is pushing you to pay money immediately, there’s likely to be an issue.
- Pictures – are the pictures different to the property? Do the pictures look fake or unnatural?
- They ask for money up front – Never pay anything before a viewing!
Unfortunately, scam landlords give the profession a bad name. The truth is, scammers are few and far between though tenants are not always aware of this. This is why it’s even more important to get your inventories right. By turning to No Letting Go for our inventory services, you remove any possibility of deposit disputes and also reassure tenants of your legitimacy. Find out more about our services here.
As of February 1st this year, landlords up and down the United Kingdom found themselves lumped with a pretty sizeable load of newly-assigned responsibilities. For the first time, and for the indefinite future to say the least, it is now entirely the responsibility of landlords to ensure that their tenants are in fact legally entitled to rent their properties. Known as the ‘Right to Rent’ rule, no longer are landlords able to in any way turn a blind eye to the legality of their tenants’ residency in the United Kingdom.
Unsurprisingly, the change ruffled more than a few feathers across the country. Many a landlord and national inventory company alike responded quite strongly to the newly-imposed responsibilities, suggesting that it paves the way for landlords to be punished unfairly when dealing with dishonest tenants. Nevertheless, it’s a change that’s only just come into effect and isn’t going anywhere in the near future, so it’s crucial to comprehensively understand what responsibilities now fall with landlords.
Guidelines for Tenants
One plus point from the landlord’s perspective is the fact that the government has recently published an updated How to Rent guide, which was created to help tenants better understand both sides of the deal. It may assist in the on-going battle against unscrupulous landlords, while at the same time helping tenants understand their obligations.
Whether working alone or in conjunction with landlord inventory services UK, the change basically makes it the duty of the landlord to check their tenants’ right to rent before allowing them to move in. It’s a means by which to enhance the government’s efforts to gain better control over illegal immigration, making it difficult for illegals to find places to live. And in any instances where landlords are found to be housing illegal immigrants without having carried out the necessary checks, they will be liable for fines of up to £3,000 per occupant.
Making assumptions or taking the word of tenants at face value will no longer be sufficient. Instead, landlords are required to make the necessary checks, demand that the required identification be produced and maintain meticulous records for future inspection.
In this video Paul Shamplina – from Landlord Action – gives clear directions on the new Right to Rent immigration checks.
Checking Documents
In terms of going about the document checks, it’s crucial for landlords to know both what it is they are looking for and how to keep the necessary records.
For example, all forms of ID produced to prove residency status must be approved documents, such as passports, visas and so on. No form of ID can be accepted if it isn’t recognised.
In addition to this, the documents must in every instance be the originals – photocopies are strictly prohibited. Landlords must then keep photocopies for their own records, but these should be taken from the original documents only.
If there is any doubt whatsoever as to either the authenticity of the documents or that the image is a true likeness of the individual, additional checks must be carried out before allowing tenancy. Documents should be cross-checked in detail.
All copies must be signed by both parties, dated and stored in a safe place, in case required at a later date.
The Home Office is also providing a telephone helpline to help landlords and tenants understand how these measures apply to them and how to carry out the right to rent checks. You can use this service by calling 0300 069 9799.
If you’re finding tenancy inventories a headache, see how No Letting Go can remove your strain.
New Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Legislation 2015 for England, comes into effect on 1st October which means that landlords of residential properties must have smoke alarms fitted on every floor and carbon monoxide alarms in any room with a solid fuel burning appliance. To support landlords and letting agents, No Letting Go has launched an inspection and installation services across its 50 regional offices. These regulations cover all private rented properties not just new tenancies which are let on assured shorthold tenancies and is retrospective.
Nick Lyons, CEO of No Letting Go, says “with the enormous and somewhat challenging task agents and landlords now have with which to meet the requirements of the new legislation, we have launched a fully insured and audited inspection and installation service both as a standalone service or combined with our current inventory or check out , to help agents and landlords across the UK comply with the legislation.”
By providing this service No Letting Go will test, register and record all existing alarms, replace batteries and/or install new alarms where necessary. All information will be recorded in a report and on our web base system, accessible 24/7 providing a full audit trail to ensure agents and landlords meet these latest legislative requirements.
Check for details of your local office here, call our head office on 0203 1264 409 or e mail us at [email protected].
The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) – the government approved deposit protection scheme for landlords, agents, and tenants in the UK – today announced the value of deposits protected has grown by £100m from last year, to over £1.3bn and a 25% increase in deposit disputes, to 11,900.
The TDS figures show that 19.2% of all disputes raised resulted in 100% pay-outs to tenants; 19.8% of all disputes raised by landlords or agents resulted in 100% pay-outs to them; while in the remaining 61% of cases saw the disputed money split between the parties.
Most of the disputes in England and Wales were about cleaning (58%), followed by damage (52%), redecoration (32%), gardening (17%) and rent arrears (10%).
It is worth noting the average amount of money disputed in cases across England and Wales was £831 – Our average inventory costs only 10% of this value; isn’t it worth considering a professional inventory service?
You can avoid the trend of increasing tenancy disputes with leading inventory provider No Letting Go: with an incredibly successful track record, we are the largest and most respected property inventory company with over 40 offices throughout the UK.
Call us today for enquires 01322 555128.
You can read the full TDS Dispute Service Annual Review 2015 here.