Renting out property with oil fired central heating

SammyFace

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Can anyone advise what the norm is with renting a property that uses oil. Is the tank usually filled by the landlord prior to the tenants moving in or is is let with an empy tank and they are responsible for filling it?

talulahbeige_2

We took our oil CH property on about a month ago and the LL left it with around 500l in the tank, we then topped it up with another 1000 when we got the keys. The inventory records how much oil is showing on the measure we have on it and we have to leave it at the same level.
I think it would be unfair to leave an empty tank when it is just starting to get cold, your not giving them much chance to shop around or get used to it if they havent had oil before.

My LL also pays for the annual service as oil boilers need servicing rather than just safety checking.

princeofpounds

Usually the amount of fuel in the tank is recorded on the inventory and on exit the levels are measured and compensation passed one way or the other as required. It's a good idea to make sure the basis on which this is done is well-understood and recorded at the start (particularly how to price up the fuel)

A smart landlord will make sure there is enough fuel to last a couple of weeks when tenants move in, but not so much that they are left with a big hole if the tenants leave them with an empty tank.

SammyFace

Thanks everyone.

We have oil heating in our house but are considering renovating a property with a view to rent out. princeofpounds you hit the nail on the head, I was concerned about filling a 1500 litre tank and the tenants leaving it empty, I like the idea of having a few weeks worth of oil to start them off and agreeing to leave it at the same level on departure. Many thanks.

propertyman

If you are doing the "out full , return full" ensure that the deposit takes that into account.

Loss of oil or dead oil can damage some installations, and if so an option is to have a regular top off visit and recharge it each month as part of the rent.

G_M

Providing a full tank at the start of a tenancy and requiring the tenant leave it full is asking for trouble. If they leave it empty the deposit is unlikely to cover the cost, and even if it does it leaves nothing to cover rent arrears/damage which is what the deposit should be for.

Leave enough to get the tenant started. Doesn't matter how much as long as it is recorded/ageeed.

It is also unreasonable to require the tenant to leave the same amount when they leave. It is impossible to manage your oil usage that precisely.

When they leave the oil level should be compared with that recorded at the start and either the tenant gets a refund if the tank is fuller, or the tenant makes a payment if the tank is emptier.

emsywoo123

The last house I rented had a tank....we moved in November, it was empty, could not get a delivery for ages (in all liklihood it wasn't ages but looking back feels like it now ) as we were not a previous customer, and all our money had been used up by the move so could not pay at time of booking (they would not accept we would pay on the day)

cold bad times!

gemmaw

~I have oil central heating and am considering letting out my home, I was told that the best thing to do is to put a flow meter on the oil delivery, so you and the tenants know exactly how much they are using and you charge them accordingly. Seems reasonable to me, but I haven't done this yet as fitting a flow meter will cost a couple of hundred pounds!
Good to hear other people in the same predicament.