Avoid An Empty Property Over Christmas

So, have your tenants recently given notice to leave your rental property? Panic sets in because its getting closer to Christmas and the last thing you want is the thought of an empty property while tucking into your Christmas roast, fear not! Here are some hints and tips to effectively find a tenant sooner than you may think...

Confirm an exact date of when your current tenants will be vacating the property, ideally in writing and signed by both parties so a specific date is agreed.

Inspect the property before the tenants move out, make a snag list of all the odd jobs i.e fixing a leaky tap or lose door handle that can be done while the property is still tenanted. Bigger plans like painting or new carpets you can have scheduled to be carried out the minute your current tenants leave.

Instruct an agent (ahem, Beth Alexandra Property Specialists) to list the property and activate it 'live' at least one week before the end of the tenancy. Give your current tenants plenty of notice so the property can be prepared for the photographs.

Arrange an open day for potential tenants to view, preferably before your present tenants leave. It is usual practice that current tenants must co-operate with access for viewings during the last month of their tenancy.

The sooner viewings commence the sooner a new tenancy can be secured and less time the property is left empty.

It all seems easy when put into 5 simple steps, the key is knowing your plan, being organised and carrying it forward. So get started!

Is Your Tenancy Deposit Secure?

If you are a tenant renting a property who signed an Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement and paid a deposit under this agreement, have you made sure that your deposit is secure? All deposits paid under an AST from 6th April 2012 in England and Wales must be secured in a Government funding protection scheme. The funds have to be registered with 30 days of of receipt of the landlord and confirmation should be forwarded to the tenant so they are aware where the deposit is being held. The information should also include: 

• The full address of the property being rented
• How much deposit has been paid
• Details on how the deposit it being protected
• The contact details of the tenancy deposit scheme and its dispute resolution service
• The landlords contact details
• The letting agents details (if applicable)
• Contact details of any third party who has paid the deposit
• Instruction on how to claim the deposit back
• What to do if there is ever a dispute

The protection scheme is in place to ensure the deposit is returned to the tenant at the end of the tenancy in full or in case of a dispute the negotiation is dealt with professionally.

At the end of the tenancy the deposit should be transferred back to the tenant within 10 days of agreeing the amount. In the likelihood of a dispute the tenancy deposit scheme will continue to be protect the funds until the negotiation has been settled.

Beth Alexandra Property Specialists