renting house out

rjh090384

hi

me and husband split u pand are going to rent house out.

we have found tenants through gumtree. trouble is we dont know how we can check their references etc and check that they actually have money to pay the rent. can anyone advise on this?

can anyone else advise what documentation we need from them? i have googled and cant find anything ni specific

thanks in advance

revpeachy

If you check out the Housing Executive web site they have a surprising amount of info for renting privately; tenancy agreements, your legal duties etc. http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/yh-home/renting_privately/advice_for_landlords-2/general_guidelines-2.htm

or try the landlords association. http://www.lani.org.uk/


good luck!!

rjh090384

thanks also can nayone recommend a management agency - i will be across the water and he doesnt want to deal with managing it. we owuld like someone very cheap!!

niceday999

I use these people to do a credit check. there are 3 different levels of checks...I just use my initiative when i see them whether i use the bronze silver or gold.

http://www.credit-check-services.co.uk/
also you should be able to print off a tenanct agreement on line.
If you use a letting agent you must declare and pay tax on the earnings as they let revenue and customs know.....

revpeachy

If you are going to be using a management agency cheap won't come into the equation! They normally take your first months rent and then a percentage thereafter. If you do use a management company let them do the checks, its in their fees, then you have recourse if the tenants prove problematic.

I don't know anyone in your area but in Belfast, Mark Maguire on the Lisburn Road is very good and he works a fairer price than most of the bigger firms.

rjh090384

hi
we are in millisle - we dont want the tenant finding part just the actual take a percentage to deal with the tenants.

ballyblack

You need to employ an agent if you don't know what your are doing!!!

Well worth the money

mojopolo

You might ask your prospective tenant for one of the referees to be their employer and then call their employer to check it out - I've been asked by letting agencies to provide references for some of my staff in the past

Bigcammy

I think Belvoir Lettings do low cost fees for Landlords and they have an office in Newtownards which would cover Millisle.

Greentea

You could consider joining the National Landlords Assoc. You can request credit checks through them for a few pounds and they have a free help line incase of any issues.

http://www.landlords.org.uk/index.htm


Do you know you need to get an Energy Cert before you rent, have you your landlords insurance, mortgage company informed, etc Good Luck!

rjh090384

THANKS have the epc - looking at landlord insurance now - already asked mortgage they said we dont need to tell them anything about it.