Living abroad and letting in UK

guitarman001

Just floating the idea here about a move to Europe for 4 years or so. My girlfriend owns her flat and was thinking about letting it out while we are away as she wont be working when she moves with me (IF we decide to go ahead with a move). Does anybody have any information regarding this - is it risky, not the done thing? Perhaps we'd be better just selling and buying a bigger place in two years, but I was hoping to get some European experience for my career. Who knows, maybe not!

It's all up in the air but I'm guessing you have to jump through a lot of hoops and it's not all clear sailing...

Thanks in advance!

EDIT - this is the closest type of anecdotal I could get and it doesn't sound promising...
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=724725

Werdnal

Read this thread and all the links it contains:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=41160642&postcount=12

Of particular relevance if you are living overseas, is the HMRC regulations for non-UK LLs. You need to register with the HMRC and nominate someone in the UK to pay any tax due on the rent you receive. If you don't HMRC can come after your tenant to pay your tax bill.

Also, you need to appoint someone in the UK to handle repairs, and provide the tenant with a UK address for contacting you and serving notices - that is a postal address, not an email or just a phone number. This need not be a letting agent, but could be a trusted friend or relative. Failure to provide a UK address to the tenant, means that under housing law, you cannot legally charge any rent at all!

Would you have enough disposable income to cover any repairs or major problems with the property? Would you want the hassle of being contacted whilst you are enjoying your travels to authorise a boiler repair or arrange to re-house your tenants if there is a flood or burst pipe! If not, then sell and enjoy life without the ties of becoming a LL!

Also, probably most important, is the flat leasehold? If so, gf should check her lease, as she may be prohibited from letting it at all!

tbs624

Good post Werdnal - just a small clarification

Werdnal wrote: »

and provide the tenant with a UK address for contacting you and serving notices - that is a postal address, not an email or just a phone number. This need not be a letting agent, but could be a trusted friend or relative. Failure to provide a UK address to the tenant, means that under housing law, you cannot legally charge any rent at all!

Note that address has to be in Eng/Wales. T should put rent to one side as LL can collect it once an appropriate address has been given ( presuming property not in Scotland)

guitarman001

Thanks for the info, we'll both check it out.
Got to admit, it sounds like a real hassle. I don't want things with her flat to turn troublesome because she's decided to follow me abroad. Selling would be another option but we're not married and the flat is her security. The situation's a bummer as I can see no real alternative.