How to be a landlord?

mrbadexample

theartfullodger wrote: »

It may not be ast if he originally had a regulated tenancy : when did he first move in (as opposed to when is current tenancy dated)???

About a year ago, as far as I know.

mrbadexample

theartfullodger wrote: »

It may not be ast if he originally had a regulated tenancy : when did he first move in (as opposed to when is current tenancy dated)???

I don't actually understand why it may not be AST if it was once regulated. Surely it's whatever it says on the tin? :huh:

G_M

You can write anything you like on the tin - that doesn't mean what's inside is the same!

Check!

G_M

mrbadexample wrote: »

Ok. As it happens, I didn't think it would be reasonable to ask him to suddenly find an extra £300. But as the deposit's only £200, is it worth taking at all?


Thanks, I will look into those. Although I am on a course. This is a course, right? :rotfl:


Yes. It says "ASSURED SHORTHOLD TENANCY AGREEMENT" in big bold letters on the front. That means it's one of those, right?

The tenant has already paid a £200 deposit. You are now his landlord, so you are responsible for a) making sure his deposit is protected and b) returning it when he leaves. You inherited the deposit when you took over the tenancy.


Take a look at the variious training courses run ny landlords associations.

Just because it says AST does not mean it IS an AST. When did the tenant move in? I don't mean 'think' I mean 'know'. Your solicitordid check the tenancy was an AST didn't he?

mrbadexample

G_M wrote: »

The tenant has already paid a £200 deposit. You are now his landlord, so you are responsible for a) making sure his deposit is protected and b) returning it when he leaves. You inherited the deposit when you took over the tenancy.

We haven't inherited the deposit. I believe the previous LL returned it to him, so we haven't taken it yet. We might not.

G_M wrote: »

Just because it says AST does not mean it IS an AST. When did the tenant move in? I don't mean 'think' I mean 'know'. Your solicitordid check the tenancy was an AST didn't he?

I'll find out. I'm sure the solicitor will have made the appropriate checks. At least, I hope so!

What bearing does the moving in date have on the contract please?

mrbadexample

G_M wrote: »

You can write anything you like on the tin - that doesn't mean what's inside is the same!

Check!

How would I tell, if not by what's written on the front?

G_M

mrbadexample wrote: »

We haven't inherited the deposit. I believe the previous LL returned it to him, so we haven't taken it yet. We might not.



I'll find out. I'm sure the solicitor will have made the appropriate checks. At least, I hope so!

What bearing does the moving in date have on the contract please?

You cannot demand a deposit mid-tenancy. If the previous LL returned it, you will have to keep your fingers crossed the tenant does not leave owing rent or causing damage. The deposit should have been passed to you as part of the tenancy package. Also the tenants rent account (showing payment dates, arrears etc), their references/credit checks, employment etc references...... All this should have been discussed/agreed by your solicitor as part of the purchase.

Date of start of tenancy can affect type of tenancy under Landlord & Tenant Law.

Inventory - this should be the original check-in inventory. It describes the condition of the property when the tenant moved in. You should have received this as part of the package from the previous landlord. Without this, you can never claim for any damage when the tenancy ends as you cannot prove the damage was not there already.

As I said in my first post - the time to learn about being a landlord is.... before you become a landlord.

mrbadexample

G_M wrote: »

You cannot demand a deposit mid-tenancy. If the previous LL returned it, you will have to keep your fingers crossed the tenant does not leave owing rent or causing damage. The deposit should have been passed to you as part of the tenancy package. Also the tenants rent account (showing payment dates, arrears etc), their references/credit checks, employment etc references...... All this should have been discussed/agreed by your solicitor as part of the purchase.

So, we've been to meet the tenants, who seem like decent folk. Apparently, they've not had their deposit back yet, but we've told them that we won't be requiring one anyway (our solicitor advised us that it would be more hassle than it's worth, as it was only a small amount). They did offer it to us though.

G_M wrote: »

Date of start of tenancy can affect type of tenancy under Landlord & Tenant Law.

They've been in since December 2010. Our solicitor told us the AST contract we were using was fine, so I can only assume it is an AST.

G_M wrote: »

Inventory - this should be the original check-in inventory. It describes the condition of the property when the tenant moved in. You should have received this as part of the package from the previous landlord. Without this, you can never claim for any damage when the tenancy ends as you cannot prove the damage was not there already.

My mate's got the paperwork, so I'm not sure about the inventory. We don't own any contents, so that's something we don't need to worry about. I have taken plenty of photos today, to show the condition of the property at this time. I appreciate that if the tenants have damaged the property between moving in and now, we won't be able to prove that without an inventory. I need to double check that.
Presumably though, I could use the photographs to prove any damage caused after today was not initially present?

G_M wrote: »

As I said in my first post - the time to learn about being a landlord is.... before you become a landlord.

I know, and I agree! It's kind of exciting learning on the hoof though.

I think my first priority should be to acquaint myself with our obligations with regards to the safety of the tenants - e.g. fire regulations as theartfullodger pointed out. I wouldn't want to feel, or be held responsible if something bad happened.

Does the house need smoke alarms (if so, how many), fire extinguishers (or blankets) etc.

I have to say I think we may well have dropped a bit lucky with this one, as I can't forsee much in the way of problems with this particular tenant. However, this thread has already started opening my eyes!

It was also nice to be able to tell the tenant that we won't be kicking him out or anything. I'm sure he must have had some concerns, with the house being sold. Should put his mind at rest.

Thanks for all your help thus far. :T

theartfullodger

It's an AST. Join Landlord association - NLA or rla - and do one of their courses and/or Shepperson's book (Amazon) .

Put in smoke alarms with co detector - daft not to.

Gwhiz

Amba_Gambla wrote: »

Buy a house. Find some mug to pay your mortgage for you. Make sure that you price out any first time buyers. Wait for the housing market to crash, and then complain that you thought it was a safe investment.

Simples.

when did the communists start infiltrating the site?

Welcome, comrade