Presenting your property
First impressions count, making the presentation of your property critical to a successful let. Consider addressing any DIY jobs you have been meaning to get done, add a fresh coat of paint where necessary and try to declutter to make rooms appear larger. Tafaders team of dedicated professional photographers will then take photographs, produce floorplans and write comprehensive property descriptions.
Fixtures & Fittings
All fixtures and fittings should be serviced and in good working order before a tenancy commences. Instruction manuals and operating booklets should be made available for use. Typical fixtures and fittings include:
- a well maintained and serviced heating system
- a modern bathroom with a efficient power shower, modern fittings and lighting.
- a modern kitchen with a washer dryer, dishwasher, fridge freezer, microwave and cooker/hob all in good working order.
- Good wardrobe space in the bedrooms
Furnished or Unfurnished?
The majority of rental properties placed onto the lettings market are furnished and this will usually achieve a higher rental value.
- Fully Furnished properties would be considered as a property ready to move into in short time. A standard fully furnished property would include large items such as sofa’s, beds, tables, chairs, cupboards, cutlery, crockery and linen.
- Part Furnished is normally a property with large items as mentioned above but without cutlery, crockery and linen.
- Unfurnished would be considered as a property with no furniture and white goods only.
Decoration
Tenants are usually prepared to pay more to get more while a property in first-class order can usually be let more easily. Does your flat or house offer the following features to potential tenants?
Fresh decorations – light colour, such as white or off-white, are always acceptable.
High quality carpets of the same colour throughout. These should be light and neutral – biscuit/beige colour are popular, as are wooden floors.
Attractive, good-quality, well-lined curtains or blinds. Well-maintained exterior and tidy, well-planted gardens.
The Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998
Under the above regulations, it is the landlord's responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and the fixed installation are maintained in good order and checked for safety at least every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Electrical Appliances
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994
The landlord is legally responsible for ensuring that the electrical installation and all appliances within the property are maintained in good order and regularly checked for safety by an appropriate registered engineer.
Furniture and Furnishings
The landlord warrants that he/she is fully aware of the terms and conditions of the above Regulations including any subsequent amendments or replacement Regulations (hereafter referred to as the Regulations). The landlord declares that all furniture presently in the property or to be included in a property to which this agreement applies, complies in all respects with the Regulations.
EPC - Energy Performance Certificate
From 1st October 2008, all rental properties are required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which rates the energy efficiency and environmental impact of your property on a scale from A to G. The EPC must be made available to prospective tenants before a new tenancy commences. The EPC will remain valid for 10 years. Tafaders can organise an EPC from an approved supplier at the competitive rate of £75 + VAT.
Tax - Non-Resident Landlords
All income generated from letting property in the UK is liable to UK tax, whether the Landlord lives in the UK or not. The Non-Resident Landlords Scheme is a scheme operated by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for taxing the UK rental income of non-resident landlords. The scheme requires UK lettings agents to deduct basic rate tax from any rent collected. You are considered to be non-resident if your usual place of abode is outside the UK, or you are absent from the UK for a period of more than six months. You can apply to HMRC for approval to receive rents without tax being deducted. If your application is successful then once we have received written confirmation of their decision we will pay you the rent without deducting tax. Even though the rent may be paid to you without tax being deducted, it remains liable to UK tax and you must include it on your tax return.
Tafaders must be provided with a UK residential address for service. If we are not provided with a UK residential address then we are obliged to assume that a landlord is non-resident and we will operate the provisions of the scheme. Tafaders will also be obliged to state the landlord's correspondence address on the tenancy agreement as c/o Tafaders registered head office address.
We can provide you with the appropriate form or it can be downloaded from http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nr_landlords.htm#13 You will need to quote our reference number, which is 922/NA002688.
The Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
As part of the Housing Act 2004 the Government introduced tenancy deposit protection for all assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales where a deposit is taken. From April 6th 2007, all deposits paid under an AST should have been protected within 14 calendar days of receipt by the landlord or agent. From 6th April 2012, deposits for all assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales must now be protected within 30 calendar days of receipt by the landlord, this change is as a result of the Localism Bill 2011. Tafaders are a member of the DPS, where we hold a deposit it will be protected by this scheme. For more information about The Deposit
Protection Service please visit http://www.depositprotection.com
