Friends And Family Rent Out Flat?

Jamessurfing

Hi all,
I am away on a contract and own my flat ie no mortgage.
My insurance covers me for b and b guests.

Can anyone tell me if I can legally rent my place out to friends and family for a few days each time?

If I do this does it need to be PAT tested, fireproofed etc if I get them to sign a waiver?

I just want to cover my council tax/insurance and perhaps a bit more.

I want to keep the flat empty so I can also come back to it in my holidays. I looked to rent it out but the EA wants about £700 for networked fire/smoke detectors and PAT testing etc etc.

Thanks for any help!

mrginge

Jamessurfing wrote: »

If I do this does it need to be PAT tested, fireproofed etc if I get them to sign a waiver?

no, you can't use contractual terms to override statutory regulations.

I just want to cover my council tax/insurance and perhaps a bit more.

I want to keep the flat empty so I can also come back to it in my holidays. I looked to rent it out but the EA wants about £700 for networked fire/smoke detectors and PAT testing etc etc.

Thanks for any help!

£700 !!!!!!.
Let me guess, Are they going to install them for you through one of their helpful contractors?
Pat testing is not legally required afaik

Go to b and q and then find another agent.

dimbo61

Smoke alarms in main rooms and bedrooms £10-15 each
CO alarm about £18-20 for each room with GAS so where boiler is ( if gas)
Gas fire? Gas hob/oven in kitchen.
You should have them in your home already.
Gas safe certificate, and have the electrics inspected and report done.
Landlord insurance

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fireangel-co-9b-co-alarm-led-display/25134?kpid=25134&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgNzV_4OR1QIVxp3tCh05igc_EAQYASABEgKCZ_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CJXdgYKEkdUCFVCg7QodLJ8B5g

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fireangel-tst-620q-10-year-thermoptek-smoke-alarm-2-pack/42801

G_M

For a let property under an AST (other than a HMO), a CO alarm is only legally required if there is solid fuel, not for gas (though it's sensible to have a CO detector).

PAT testing not strictly required, though the electrics must be safe.

What Im unsure about is the status of your friends/family if they stay there in your absence. That's not a 'B&B' is it? If you're not there, who provides their breakfast? And they'd be getting 'exclusive occupation'.

So they might become tenants with an AST and hence 6 months security.

Or is this akin to a 'holiday let' for which, again, I'm unsure of the criteria and regs.

Jamessurfing

Ok thanks for information,
sure the estate agent is full of $$$$ i'm sure.
Yes I have smoke/fire detectors in all rooms, but they swear now a networked system is needed.

To be honest, Im fed up of $$$$$ coming to my place and quoting ridiculous amounts, when they clearly can see I am someone who does not beleive what they say. Same with a blind quote £400. Never called them back.

Sure will look into holiday let status also.

dotchas

Are you in Scotland? Where mains operated smoke alarms are required

DCFC79

You could contact another EA and ask re PAT being needed.

Jamessurfing

Hi Dotchas, yes I am.
I guess why the heft price tag?

gld73

Having recently bought a flat in Scotland to rent out, the £700 you were quoted isn't necessarily unreasonable - I'd rented out property in England before and have found it a much more expensive process in Scotland. Despite it just being a studio flat, the work to install hardwired interlinked smoke and heat detectors, do PAT testing of all white goods and anything else vaguely portable (e.g. panel heaters and heated shower towel rail), some other work required to pass the EICR, and then the EICR itself (£180 plus VAT just to get the certificate on top of all the work!), cost a little bit more than that.

None of the work would have been required if it had been a property in England. (Default advice on this board will be from an English perspective, so as there are are significant differences between English and Scottish law when it comes to property matters, you need to specify if it's in Scotland).

Mossfarr

Have a look how airbnb works, it might be a better option for you.