You Have Your Property To Let In Liverpool… Next Steps?

If you have a flat to rent in Liverpool, and you’re determined to do it without any help from any outside agents, you need to follow these next steps. We must stress that this is a quick rough guide, you must take into account many other aspects and recommendations when letting a property, to ensure your property management tenure runs smoothly.

Getting The Right Consent

The chances are the property you intend to rent is already mortgaged. It is very important that you ask your lender for consent to change to a buy-to-let mortgage. If you don’t, you may invalidate all sorts of agreements and terms of the mortgage which can have very serious consequences. Do you have a leasehold property? You must check your lease permits and make sure you’re allowed to let.

Get An Energy Performance Certificate

It became a legal requirement in October 2008 for a landlord to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when renting out a building.  Any prospective landlords should include the energy performance graphs when they advertise their flat and this can be an excellent selling point with prospective tenants.

Advertise

How much should I charge? What do I need to take into account to cover all eventualities? This has always been the downfall of the property owner who intends to find tenants. You may have a perfect property to let, but how do you do it?

You should always take advice and understand that everybody is different in respect of commitment to renting a property. You could choose a tenant find service, let only service or a full management service.  Have a look at the different services offered and don’t be afraid to call up and ask

Important Checks

Safety checks must be completed before you rent your property and your tenant(s) moves in.

Gas and electrical appliances in rented accommodation should be tested and certified safe on an ANNUAL basis. In the event of an accident you as a Landlord must be able to prove that all appliances were safe. It is a legal requirement that a Gas Safety Check is carried out before a tenancy commences and re-tested every year. Use our Gas and Electric Safety Checks to comply with current legislation and cover yourself.

Ensure all furnishings comply with current safety regulations. Any furnishings, which do not comply with the regulations, should be removed or replaced prior to offering the property for rent. The 2004 Housing Act also requires the landlord to comply with fire safety regulations

Next Steps

If this seems a little too much, then a property management company will take out all the headaches… at very little expense.