Before investing in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) property, there are lots to consider. This guide will highlight the key issues to help you prepare to take that step.
What is an HMO?
Your property is an HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) if rented out by at least three people who are not from one ‘household’, such as a family, but share facilities like a bathroom and kitchen.
A large HMO is defined as a property that:
· Is rented to five or more people who form more than one household
· Requires some or all tenants to share toilet, bathroom, or kitchen facilities
· Has at least one tenant paying rent (or their employer pays it for them)
Large HMOs must have a licence if located in England or Wales. However, smaller properties rented to fewer people may still need a licence, and you need to check with your local council.
What responsibilities does an HMO landlord have?
In our blog, we have previously provided A beginners guide for HMO landlords, which provides details of the requirements placed on landlords. These are important because the responsibilities are broad in what they cover and specific in terms of what they require.
One example is that suitable bedroom sizes for HMOs are stipulated, so if you are thinking about applying for a licence, you need bedroom sizes that are at least:
· 6.51 square metres for a person aged 10 or over
· 10.22 square metres for two people aged 10 or over
· 4.64 square metres for a child under 10 years old
Again, this can vary between councils, and you need to understand the requirements in the council authority area.
You must also be aware that the local authority needs to be informed if:
· You plan to make changes to an HMO
· Your tenants make changes
· Your tenants’ circumstances change (for example, they have a child)
These specific demands on HMO landlords are in addition to the more apparent responsibilities like complying with HMO legal requirements, ensuring safety checks, providing furnishings, fixtures and fittings, maintaining communal areas and not allowing overcrowding.
The requirements placed on HMO landlords are comprehensive, so anyone considering investing in a House in multiple occupation property must be clear about them first.
What else do HMO landlords need to know?
Besides understanding their responsibilities, HMO landlords must be aware of their implications. No matter what property you rent, there will be challenges to address. But as an HMO landlord, you may need to consider the following:
• It can be harder to find financing for these types of rentals
• You need to find the right property to convert to an HMO
• Set-up costs can be higher
• Managing multiple tenants can be more challenging
• Tenant turnover may be higher
• Running costs may be higher
• Collecting rent from several individuals will likely present more work
• Maintenance costs can be higher
Making HMO management easier
Despite the potential challenges for an HMO landlord, the potential income is a big attraction. With the right support, the time needed to manage an HMO successfully can be substantially reduced.
The range of services, including pre-, mid- and end-of-tenancy services, offered by No Letting Go means landlords can make navigating the challenges of being an HMO landlord easier, ensure legal obligations are met, the investment is being protected and that tenants are content.
No Letting Go
If you would like to find out more about how the No Letting Go team can cut down on time needed to manage HMO and multiple properties, streamline cost and reduce workload, contact No Letting Go today.
Protecting tenants and properties from the risk of fire is an essential legal obligation for landlords. To ensure you are doing all required, here is our landlords’ guide to fire safety in rental properties.
What do landlords need to be aware of?
It is vital for landlords and letting agents to know what is expected of them regarding fire safety in their rental properties. Their obligations are set out in several regulations:
• The Housing Act 2004
• Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988/1989, 1993 and 2010
• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005)
• The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, which has recently been amended to place further obligations on landlords
What is required from landlords?
The government has set out landlord safety responsibilities, stipulating what a landlord must do; these include:
· Following safety regulations
· Providing a smoke alarm on each storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a solid fuel burning appliance (for example, a coal fire or wood burning stove)
· Check you have access to escape routes at all times
· Make sure the furniture and furnishings supplied are fire safe
· Provide fire alarms and extinguishers if the property is a large house in multiple occupation (HMO)
These responsibilities provide an overview of what needs to be achieved. Still, they don’t reflect all that needs to be done to ensure that a landlord’s requirements are met, that is, to do what is practically possible to ensure the safety of residents.
Landlords must understand the details set out in the various legislative documents and regulations as these add the detail, for example:
• Electrical safety inspections
• Portable appliance testing
• Gas safety checks
Properties that are houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) have additional fire safety rules such as marked fire exits and the provision of extra equipment, such as fire extinguishers. This highlights the importance of considering the property you own or intend to purchase and knowing the safety requirements.
Ongoing compliance: inventories and inspections
Essential tools for landlords to ensure they continue to meet the fire safety requirements are inspections and inventories. A legal requirement for many rental properties, they also benefit all landlords, who can keep track of the state of their investment.
At No Letting Go, we are always on top of the legal requirements placed on landlords. We can ensure they always stay compliant through comprehensive and regular inspections and completion of inventories.
Not only does this ensure that legal standards are met, but they also offer a piece of mind for both landlords and tenants that they are in a safe environment. We also make sure that landlords are prepared for any changes in legal requirements that may be heading their way regarding fire safety.
Services such as our block management inspections provide an independent assessment and record of fire safety at the property. Importantly, inspections can also be tailored to your property’s needs and provided at agreed intervals to keep on top of fire safety obligations.
No Letting Go
No one wants to take risks with fire safety. To discover how safety inspections can protect your tenants and your property or how our local support or national network at No Letting Go can streamline your costs and reduce workload, contact No Letting Go today.
The government recently announced the Fairer Private Rented Sector white paper, which it says is the biggest shake-up in 30 years in the rights and conditions for tenants in the sector.
Two areas likely to cause some of the biggest shake-ups for landlords are the ban on Section 21 “no-fault” evictions and the extension of the Decent Homes Standard to the private rental sector, which landlords need to be prepared for.
Why is the government introducing changes?
The rental sector has seen sustained and considerable growth, with 4.4 million households (equating to more than 11 million people) now living in rented accommodation. As part of its levelling-up plan, the government want to tackle the inequalities it sees between landlords and tenants and bring rented accommodation up to acceptable standards for all.
A ban on Section 21 no fault evictions
In 2018, Citizens Advice found tenants receiving a Section 21 eviction notice were five times more likely to have recently made a complaint to their council than those who hadn’t. The government wants tenants to feel able to draw attention to bad landlords or sub-standard accommodation and is introducing the ban so that landlords can no longer terminate tenancies without a specific reason.
The government also believes that this change will help reduce the financial burden tenants incur each time they have to move by ensuring they aren’t forced to do so unnecessarily. This is likely to have a significant impact as 22% of private renters who moved in 2019 and 2020 didn’t end their tenancy by choice.
To deliver these changes, Section 21 evictions will be abolished, and a single system of periodic tenancies will be introduced, replacing the current Assured Tenancy or Assured Shorthold Tenancy schemes. Under them, tenants will need to give two months’ notice to end their tenancy, and landlords can only evict in reasonable circumstances, which will be defined in law.
Extension of the Decent Home Standards
The government also wants to halve the number of ‘non-decent’ rented homes by 2030. The requirement for private sector rental properties to meet the Decent Homes Standard, already covering the public sector, is an integral part of achieving this.
To be considered decent, a property must be free from serious health and safety hazards, such as falls and carbon monoxide poisoning, must be kept in a good state of repair and have clean, appropriate and useable facilities. Decent noise insulation is also required. Homes that are too hot or cold, damp or mouldy, will not be acceptable.
With 1.6 million people living in low-quality homes, there is plenty of work to be done in this area. Landlords and letting agents must look carefully at the Decent Homes Standards and review their properties to ensure they meet and retain the required standards.
What do landlords need to do?
Many landlords already take their responsibilities to protect the wellbeing of their tenants seriously, but the changes outlined in the fairer private rented sector white paper mean systems need to be put in place to ensure properties are being maintained and that landlords have collected the information they need to support an eviction.
Services such as mid-term property reports and estate and block management will be vital tools for landlords and letting agents in helping them meet their obligations and prepare for the changes that need to start now.
Protecting yourself with No Letting Go
If you would like to discuss how our local support or national network at No Letting Go could become your inventory partner, reducing your workload and costs by protecting you from unfair claims, then contact No Letting Go today.
It won’t be a surprise to hear that during the pandemic, hybrid and online estate agents enjoyed a 10% uplift in instructions. Many High Street letting agents had to close, while online letting agents were able to continue offering their range of services.
But with the convenience and potential cost savings that online letting agencies offer, their popularity looks likely to continue growing. Here, in our opinion, are some of the best online agencies on the market.
What exactly is an Online Letting Agent?
Online letting agents work in a similar way to traditional agencies but without the physical high street presence. However, from advertising the property to photography and reference checking, most online agencies still deliver all the services required by landlords. They’re also often cheaper and don’t come with so many fees (though they do vary from agency to agency).
So, in alphabetical order, which are our best online letting agents?
(Please note: All prices mentioned below are for the top/premium/fully managed packages, lower cost alternatives for hands-on landlords are also offered by all agencies featured.)
I Am The Agent
Efficient, cost-effective and straightforward, I Am The Agent offers flexibility and simplicity to landlords. Their service allows you to choose what you want to receive as part of the package.
Price: £279 (The Whole Shebang Package) + costs for additional service.
Letting a property.com
LettingaProperty offer all the services you’d expect of a high street agency but they’re more affordable, and with a self-proclaimed ‘higher service level’. In their ‘Complete’ plan, the agency offers a guarantee that the landlord receives rent on time every month (even if the tenant doesn’t pay) as well as home emergency maintenance cover – they cover the cost of emergency repairs up to £500 and there is zero excess!
Price: £99 set up and advertising cost & £99 per month from collected rent + costs for optional additional services.
Make Ur Move
Make Ur Move offers a variety of lettings services, ‘from DIY to VIP’. You can easily upgrade your package anytime to complement the level of service you require as a landlord.
Price: Good Landlord Essential, their top package, is £60 per month.
Mirus
Mirus utilises the skills and expertise of their consultants to offer an ‘unrivalled professional experience’. With a real emphasis on instilling trust and confidence in landlords, this service is driven by a highly experienced team.
Price: Full management fees are 8.4%. Letting only fee is 30% of monthly rental.
Pad
Pad is the UK’s first fully mobile lettings agent – their tenants verify, offer, sign and pay with the click of a button. They claim to be the lowest cost lettings service and will make you the highest return. They pride themselves on their tech and logistics, which gives them an edge on the competition. They currently operate in London, listing properties for 1 – 12 month assured tenancies.
Price: £399 (AST Viewing Package), £199 per room (HMO Viewing Package).
Purple Bricks
Whether you want to manage your portfolio hands-on or leave the fuss to the agency, Purple Bricks can help. Arguably one of the largest names in the industry right now, this is an online letting agency that’s tried and tested by landlords up and down the country.
Price: Fees can be calculated using their online calculator.
Rentify
Rentify makes an intriguing offer to landlords. They remove any possibility of voids, arrears or repair costs. The agency will inspect your property and make a rent offer. Once this is agreed, they guarantee rent payment for three years. You leave the rest up to them. This system offers complete, hassle-free security.
Price: On consultation.
Rentlord
Rentlord is an online platform designed for helping self-managing landlords. They allow landlords to manage their portfolio entirely online. This makes the admin and legal work of landlords much easier and stress-free.
Price: £6.99 per month for their Collect and Protect Plan.
Rent My Home
Rent My Home looks to create a speedy and effective letting process for landlords. They put a large emphasis on transparency, creating a clear and honest package for landlords.
Price: Dependant on package inclusions.
The Online Letting Agent
The Online Letting Agents claim to work differently from other online letting agents. Before sending a lead to a landlord, they get further information from the viewer to ensure they will be a suitable prospective tenant, saving the landlord time and effort. They also regularly review an online advertisement to make sure it’s performing at its best. Currently, The Online Letting Agents is the highest rated online letting agent on Trustpilot in the categories of property, property leasing agent, property rental agent and estate agent categories.
Price: Tenant find from £99; fully managed property fees are 6% per month with a minimum fee of £60 (set-up fee applies).
Upad
The UK’s largest online letting agent, Upad allows landlords to pick and choose the services they want included in the package. When you work with Upad, your property will be advertised to over 10 million potential tenants through sites like Rightmove, Zoopla and prime Location.
Price: £449 for advertising services (Complete Package) and £599 plus £72 per month for fully managed property services.
Urban
Described by The Sunday Times as ‘one of the top online agents’ and voted 2018’s best online letting agent at the ESTAS, Urban comes highly recommended. The agency is proud of its reputation and consistently receives high customer praise.
Price: From £45 per month for the full management service.
Visum
Operating since 2004, Visum is the UK’s oldest online letting and estate agent. With a track record of working with over 30,000 properties, Visum pride themselves on their rich experience in the industry. The site was conceived by genuine landlords and estate agents who offer expert help with the process.
Price: Most popular package is £89 + costs for additional services or their Premium package of £449.
No Letting Go – a partner you can rely on
New rules for smoke and carbon monoxide compliance are expected to take effect from 1st October. In our blog, we have previously discussed whether the new carbon monoxide (CO) alarm regulations will have an impact on the buy-to-rent sector. With these proposed changes just around the corner, now is the time to ensure that you will comply with the law.
What do the new CO rules require from landlords?
Landlords and letting agents should already be aware of the obligations placed on them regarding carbon monoxide alarms and smoke detectors.
But from the beginning of October, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) regulations will create new obligations that must be complied with:
• Landlords will be responsible for repairing and replacing alarms throughout the tenancy, not just at the start. They can no longer rely on the tenant to repair or replace the smoke alarm or CO detector, and they need to ensure that they act once they have been informed of a fault by the tenant.
• Any room in the property with a fixed combustion appliance, including gas fires, boilers and wood burners (excluding gas cookers), must have a carbon monoxide alarm.
• Landlords must check alarms are in working order on the first day of a tenancy.
• Carbon monoxide alarms will also be mandatory upon installation of any heating appliance (excluding gas cookers).
• The social housing sector will now also be required to fit homes with fire alarms and carbon monoxide sensors.
To ensure compliance with the new regulations, landlords and letting agents will need to have all required alarms and detectors fitted by 1st October when the new regulations come into effect. It will not be enough to have them ready to install.
Now is the time to prepare for the changes
Now is the time to begin the process of making sure each of your properties will be compliant by the deadline. This means not only checking that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working and installed as required but that you also have the right processes in place to ensure ongoing compliance.
Equally importantly, you also need the ability to demonstrate that you are fulfilling your duties.
For those responsible for block or estate management, the task of ensuring and maintaining compliance can be time consuming and complex. We have many clients who rely on our Estate and Block Property Management Services to ensure that they are meeting the range of responsibilities placed on them.
We can conduct weekly, monthly and six-monthly property visits, and our inspections include checks on a range of assets, including:
• Fire detection and fire alarm system
• Fire doors
• Emergency lighting
• Sprinklers
• Fire extinguisher
• Automatic doors
For anyone managing individual properties, our check-in services and mid tenancy services can support you and ensure changes in legislation never catch you out.
If you need support to get ready for The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) regulations 2022, please contact us to discuss how we can help you.
No Letting Go
If you would like to discuss how our local support or national network at No Letting Go could become your inventory partner, supporting compliance, streamlining costs and reducing your workload, then contact No Letting Go today.
The foundation of a good relationship between a tenant, landlord and letting agent is when parties understand their rights and responsibilities to each other, establishing a collective responsibility to ensure the tenancy goes smoothly.
If you’re new to renting or haven’t reminded yourself of your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, look at our guide below to know where you stand.
Your rights as a tenant
As a tenant, you have the rights provided for in Government legislation and may also have additional rights defined in your tenancy agreement with the landlord. The rights set by the government are the minimum:
· To live in a property that’s safe and in a good state of repair
· Your deposit is returned when the tenancy ends, providing no damage has occurred to the property – and your deposit is protected if you rent your home on an assured shorthold tenancy that started after 6 April 2007
· The right to challenge any charges you believe to be excessively high
· To know who your landlord is
· To live undisturbed in the property
· The right to see an Energy Performance Certificate for the property
· Protection from unfair eviction and unfair rent
· To have a written agreement if you have a fixed-term tenancy of more than three years
In addition to these rights, if you live in England, when you begin a new assured or short tenancy your landlord is obliged to give you a copy of the How to Rent guide, offering advice on the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords and the rental process in England and Wales.
Your responsibilities as a tenant
In addition to your rights, you also have responsibilities as a tenant, which you must be aware of to ensure you aren’t risking your tenancy. These responsibilities are:
• To take good care of the property, for example, turn off the water at the mains if you’re away in cold weather.
• Pay the agreed rent, even if repairs are needed or you’re in dispute with your landlord.
• Pay other charges as agreed with the landlord, for example, Council Tax or utility bills.
• Repair or pay for any damage caused by you, your family or friends
• Only sublet a property if the tenancy agreement or your landlord allows it.
• Allow the landlord access to the property to carry out repairs if they have given you at least 24 hours’ notice, and they request access at a reasonable time of day unless it’s an emergency and they need immediate access.
If you don’t meet your responsibilities, your landlord has the right to begin legal action to evict you.
Building a positive tenancy
The rental sector is a dynamic one that’s subject to regular changes in the law, such as those proposed by the Renters Reform Bill or the proposed EPC regulations, so there’s a lot for landlords, letting agents and tenants keep aware of.
Good communications and putting processes in place, such as mid-term property reports, ensure that the property is well maintained and all stakeholders know their expectations and can work together to create a positive tenancy relationship – which saves time and money for all concerned.
No Letting Go
If you would like to discuss how our local support or national network at No Letting Go could become your inventory partner, contributing towards a smooth relationship with tenants, streamlining costs and reducing your workload, then contact No Letting Go today.
Landlords are raising rents in response to tax changes
It’s been two years since changes to buy-to-let mortgages also changed the way that landlords are taxed. As some had predicted, many landlords have been forced to reconsider their position and think about what the future now holds for them.
How has buy-to-let tax changed?
Before 2017, landlords could deduct mortgage expenses from their taxable profits, including all of the interest they paid for the mortgage on their rental property.
In 2017 this began to be phased out until April 2020. it stopped altogether. This was replaced by a 20% tax credit, which is substantially less for higher rate taxpayers who, under the old system, would have received 40% tax relief.
How has this affected landlords?
These changes in how landlords are taxed have had significant implications for them, with one in three reporting that their portfolio is not as profitable as it was before the changes came in. The same number of landlords have considered selling properties due to the loss of mortgage tax relief.
Apart from the financial impact, the lettings sector is undergoing a raft of changes, with more on the horizon; we recently talked about how the Renters Reform Bill will change things. All these changes and proposals are proving challenging to keep up with, causing 58% of landlords to claim that changing and confusing government legislation is the biggest challenge.
Two options for landlords
In addition to changing legislation, 32% of landlords stated that rising taxes are also a key challenge. To manage the financial impact of these changes, landlords are taking one of two main options – raising rents and selling properties.
25% of landlords said they have increased rents to cover the cost of increasing tax on their tenants, and for landlords with more than 20 properties, this increases to 58% passing on costs.
Around the same proportion of landlords with more extensive portfolios (26%) have reduced the size of their properties to reduce the impact of tax changes. However, the percentage decreases to 13% for landlords with smaller property portfolios.
What does the future hold for landlords?
With more changes to the law on the drawing board that will impact landlords, for example, renting with pets, changes to energy efficiency rating requirements, as well as possible interest rate rises, life for landlords won’t get any easier in 2022.
Ongoing changes and uncertainty in the rental market will continue to have unintended knock-on effects, such as reducing the amount of affordable housing and rental properties on the market.
Despite the challenges, almost 60% of landlords still believe that letting a property is worthwhile. Demand for rental properties is still high, so there is still much for landlords to be optimistic about, so long as they have a realistic business plan, which includes the right support that keeps costs down and maximises occupancy.
No Letting Go
If you would like to discuss how our local support or national network at No Letting Go could become your inventory partner, streamline your costs and reduce your workload, then contact No Letting Go today.
The drive to improve the energy efficiency of properties in the UK looks likely to impact landlords in 2025, with the proposed EPC regulations that could require landlords to make potentially significant and expensive changes to their properties.
What are the current energy regulations?
All domestic and commercial properties for rent need to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) confirming the property’s energy efficiency. Ratings range from “A” to the most efficient” to “G”.
Current regulations state that any property being let must have an EPC rating of “E” or above, with certificates valid for ten years. After ten years, landlords only need to renew their certificates when they relet their property to a new tenant.
What are the new EPC regulations proposing?
As part of the government’s objective to increase energy efficiency and achieve net-zero carbon targets, it’s driving for greater energy efficiency in homes. All newly rented properties will need an EPC of at least Band C from 31st December 2025.
Existing tenancies will have until 31st December 2028 to achieve this new practical, affordable, and cost-effective target. Fines for not having a valid EPC will also increase from £5000 to £30,000.
This new legislation is expected to come into effect some time in 2022.
How will this affect landlords?
With approximately two-thirds of homes in the private rental sector having an energy rating of D or below, it means around 3.2 million privately rented properties in England and Wales will require work to meet government targets.
When asked in a recent study, landlords with properties below a “C” rating believe it will cost an average of £10,400 per property to deliver the energy efficacy required. Still, if this action isn’t taken, landlords could find themselves with a property they cannot rent.
What can landlords do to prepare for the proposed change?
It’s difficult to see how any landlords, especially those with tenants already in place, will be able to quickly make the changes to their properties needed to meet the new C band efficiency rating. The work is likely to take time; you also need to work around your tenants to get any disruptive work done on the property and find the funding for such a level of investment.
All landlords need to start understanding the scale of the proposed changes by looking at their properties’ current EPC certificate, the recommendations made at the time, and understanding where the current areas of energy inefficiencies exist.
You can take many actions to improve a property’s energy efficiency and allow yourself time to plan the most effective and appropriate measures for your property that could help you save money.
With the potential for more regulations requiring further investment from landlords, now more than ever, it’s essential to protect your investment by looking after your property and ensuring that it’s well maintained. Regular property inspections and building good relations with your tenants keep your property an attractive proposition on the rental market, spread the cost of improving energy efficiency, and ensure you get a return on your investments.
No Letting Go
If you would like to discuss how our local support or national network at No Letting Go could help keep you regulation-compliant, streamline your costs and reduce your workload by becoming your inventory partner, then contact No Letting Go today.
No Letting Go are proud to announce that we have been SHORTLISTED for a prestigious ESTAS customer service award! To be announced in October 2021.
ESTAS honour the best agents, conveyancers, mortgage advisors and suppliers in the UK.
The annual ESTAS awards occur in Spring and Autumn, attracting the top players in the UK’s property and lettings industry.
The ESTAS Supplier Awards recognise supplier firms who have delivered the best customer experience to their respective agency, conveyancer and broker clients in 2020.
Now in their 11th year, the supplier categories have become an integral part of the annual ESTAS competition providing a badge of excellence that is instantly recognisable by agents and highlights a supplier’s commitment to quality service.
Twenty-eight supplier firms have made this year’s shortlist across various product sectors. Property professionals in the last year submitted a record total of 9,500 reviews.
ESTAS Brand Ambassador Phil Spencer will announce the winners at the 18th annual ESTAS Awards on 22nd October. Spencer said, “the industry’s leading suppliers are instrumental in helping property professionals provide excellent service, they are an extension of that experience so the service they deliver is crucial, it’s therefore only right that ESTAS puts the spotlight on their efforts.”
No Letting Go said, “We’re absolutely delighted to have made it on to this year’s shortlist. We are passionate about the level of service we deliver to our clients and this proves all the hard work the team put in has paid off”.
Renting with pets
We’ve learned over the past year how much of a comfort pets have been for many people during lockdown. The government is keen to make it easier for dwellers in private rented accommodation to enjoy the benefits of living with a furry friend and is taking steps to encourage more landlords to allow pets.
What’s changed
A BBC report found that only 7% of landlords offer pet-friendly accommodation. In a move to increase this, the government has introduced a new model tenancy agreement that allows renters to seek consent for pets as a default, requiring the landlord to provide written refusal within 28 days, providing good reasons for their refusal. It’s not a legal requirement to use the modal tenancy agreement, but there is a drive-in parliament to make these changes a legal requirement.
What does this mean for agents?
Letting agents want to strike the right balance between ensuring that additional wear and tear or damage caused by pets is managed without excluding potential tenants because of pet ownership. Also, on the positive side, pet owners are often mindful not to abuse a landlord’s trust, and they also tend to look for longer tenancies because they know how difficult it is to find properties that allow pets.
In our post Renting with pets: A landlord’s guide, we discuss key considerations when allowing pets in rental properties, but there are additional measures to consider to minimise the impact of pets on a property:
- Requiring pet insurance: This can cover accidental property damage.
- Landlord references: Confirm from previous landlords the acceptable behaviour of the animal and the tenant as a courteous pet owner.
- Proof of vaccinations: This helps prevent flea infestations and ensures the good health of the pet.
- Charger higher rent: You may be entitled to charge a small additional amount to cover the cost of wear and tear.
Add protection with regular property inspections.
Regular inspections of rental properties are always advisable as a means of protecting your landlord’s investment. Still, if you have pet-owner tenants, property checks will also pick up any damage caused by their pets, such as chewed woodwork, damaged furniture or smells. You can then work with the tenant to resolve the issues or decide if the arrangement needs reviewing.
Delays to repairs can stall renting out to the next tenants and increases overall costs, which regular checks can prevent. It’s also advisable to ensure a thorough end of tenancy cleaning regime to remove pet hair and smells, especially if your next tenant isn’t a pet owner or could have pet allergies.