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!

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord and tenant responsibilities are always made clear in a standard Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement but why do we still hear of bad experiences?

The foundation of a good relationship between landlord and tenant is respect on both sides and understanding what your responsibilities are.

For a landlord this involves making sure the property is free of any health hazards and safe for tenants to live in. The following checks must be carried out prior to tenants moving in:

Gas safety check - must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and provide the tenants with a copy of the certificate for proof.

Electrical safety - the electrical system and any appliances should all be checked and safe to use.

Fire safety - making sure the tenants have access to escape routes and all furnishings supplied are fire safe.

Landlords are always responsible for repairs on the structure and exterior of the property. Any type of sanitary fittings i.e sinks/baths/WC. Heating and hot water should always be in full working order. Bear in mind, any repairs needed due to the tenants own fault, there will need to be some compromise. This takes me onto the tenants responsibilities:

Pay the agreed rent on time.

Pay any utility bills that are not included in the rental amount i.e council tax, water, electricity & gas.

Take good care of the property, repair any damage caused by you, family or friends.

How easy does all that sound? In practice it should be and it makes sense!

These are just the basics and the obvious points but the responsibilities need to be clear and understood. Its the grounds of a good landlord and tenant relationship, start as you mean to go on.

Beth Alexandra Property Specialists