1/ Energy Performance Certificates
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and the law
All this applies to residential homes in England and Wales only.
From 21st May 2010, there is no requirement for a Home Information Pack (HIP) - but you do need an Energy Performance Certificate. You need - an Energy Performance Certificate before you can legally market your home for sale or rent to the public.
You can market your home without an EPC only if either yourself or your estate agent has actually ordered an Energy Performance Certificate before marketing commences.
There should also be a 'reasonable' expectation that the EPC will be made available within 28 days of the property first appearing on the market. This means when it is 'advertised or otherwise communicated (in whatever form and by whatever means) to the public or to a section of the public'.
Energy Performance Certificate - new rules
From October 1st 2008, home-owners are now responsible for the Energy Performance Certificate. So check that you don't trip-up and potentially land with a £200 fine!
If you - or your estate agent - is responsible for actively marketing your home, there is pain in store for not obtaining an EPC: £200 penalty fine (repeatable for each day). The EPC, however, is the sole responsibility of the home-seller.
An EPC is valid for 10 years. You can market your home immediately once you have commissioned an Energy Performance Certificate.
First Day Marketing
First day marketing was a temporary provision to allow homes to be marketed if both a HIP and EPC had been ordered. First day marketing ended 6th April 2009.
Information sourced by www.energy-performance-certificates.org/epc
2/ Cleaning Services:
First Contact has teams specialized in apartments and house cleaning providing the all cleaning materials and equipment for End of tenancy cleaning or to tidy up the property for Move in tenants. We also provide a regular or one off domestic cleaning - full cleaning of flats/houses managed by estate agents for short/long term letting or selling/exchanging properties.
3/ Decoration / Repairs:
It is in a Landlords and salesmen’s best interest to present their property in as good conditions as possible when selling/letting it again to future buyers/tenants.
First Contact offers numerous labourers, painters and decorators, window cleaners, carpenters, tilers, kitchen/bathroom fitters for quick repairs before selling/letting properties.
4/ Home Insurance:
Home insurance, also commonly called hazard insurance or homeowners insurance (often abbreviated in the real estate industry as HOI), is the type of property insurance that covers private homes. It is an insurance policy that combines various personal insurance protections, which can include losses occurring to one's home, its contents, loss of its use (additional living expenses), or loss of other personal possessions of the homeowner, as well as liability insurance for accidents that may happen at the home or at the hands of the homeowner within the policy territory. It requires that at least one of the named insureds occupies the home. The dwelling policy (DP) is similar, but used for residences which don't qualify for various reasons, such as vacancy/non-occupancy, seasonal/secondary residence, or age.
5/ Professional Inventory:
This entails a visit to the property in order to compile a comprehensive report on the contents included in the tenancy together with a schedule of condition. Once this has been agreed with the tenant it becomes a binding document between landlord and tenant and forms the basis on which damage or dilapidation may be assessed at the end of a tenancy. Where applicable this report will include a check of keys returned as well as water, gas and electricity meter readings.
If requested, digital photographs can be included in the Inventory.
Without this document a landlord may have no legal entitlement in the event of a dispute to make deductions from a tenants deposit at the end of the tenancy. Following the introduction of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme in April 2007, when Part 6 of the Housing Act 2004 finally came into effect, this became even more important.
At this stage Property Inventory Services attend the property to meet the tenant, on the commencement date of the tenancy in order to hand over keys, take utilities readings and agree the inventory.
At the termination of the tenancy Property Inventory Services will attend the property with the original inventory and prepare a comparison report with recommendations. This includes checking keys returned and taking utilities readings. The report will advise of legitimate damages and accountability. At this time the Inventory may be updated with any changes.
6/ Tenant Eviction:
The Law in England and Wales regarding rent arrears
The law in England and Wales regarding private sector tenancies is governed by The Housing Act 1988. Unfortunately when renting property, there may be a time when your tenants’ arrears or their behaviour during the tenancy may mean evicting them is the only answer.
Taking the right step:
If possession is required of the property for any other reason than rent arrears i.e. for personal use, refurbishment, for sale, you must issue a section 21(b) housing act 1988 notice. This notice has to be served giving tenants two months to vacate.
If the tenant owes more than two months or eight weeks rent, then the Judge must award you a repossession order. In order to start off the repossession process, you must issue a Section 8 Housing Act 1988 notice. This gives the tenant 14 days to respond. |
