Landlord Information

Landlord Information

If you are considering letting out a property but are unsure of how to do so then look no further. Northern Property will provide the knowledge and expertise you require.

We offer two options to choose from:

Managed Service (24/7)

Managed service is a popular choice with our landlords. This is ideal for those who have other commitments in their daily schedules. Being a full time landlord can be exhausting and stressful. When you choose our managed option you can rest assured that your interests are being taken care of.

When you sign up for managed service you automatically get everything that is part of the 'let only' service but also:

• Northern Property will have a staff member responsible for your property at all hours of the day or night; If your tenants have a problem then we will take care of it, and you don't need to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary
• If there are any disputes with your tenants then we will try to resolve these. We are trained at these types of negotiations and can work quickly towards an effective solution
• We will collect the rent on your behalf and deposit it into your account; you don't have to do a thing
• When the tenancy has ended we will take care of all that needs to be sorted and resolve and disputes that arise
• We carry out detailed periodic inspections throughout the tenancy including a move in and move out
• We ensure you are given enough notice of when your tenancy is due to expire
• We will inform you well in advance either to renew the tenancy or get the property back up to let as soon as possible to reduce void periods

Let Only Service (Tenant find)

If you have previous experience letting property you may find that our let only service could work well for you. This is perhaps not advised for those who are new to letting property. With let only tenancies the landlord is expected to shoulder a lot of responsibility and will be the main point of contact. If you enjoy the challenge of letting property this could be an excellent choice for you.

When you choose our let only service you can expect the following:

• FREE appraisal of your property. This will provide you with useful information in regards to landlord responsibilities
• FREE marketing
• Marketing to include local press, PropertyPal, Property News, Northern Property website and Dual branch exposure
• High quality digital photographs of your property both inside and out for advertising in our shop and online
• We will assist with legal regulations such as EPC and gas certificates
• We will make all the arrangements in regards to key accompanied viewings including evenings and weekends
• We can handle the process of obtaining guarantor information, previous landlord and character references
• We will collect the first month's rent
• Ensure that everything is set up so that you can look forward to regular payments as per the tenancy agreement
• We will also be able to provide other legal advice should the need arise
• We will assist you with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme

What is TDS Northern Ireland?

The Tenancy Deposit Schemes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 require all landlords who take a deposit for a private tenancy on or after the 1st April 2013 to register the deposit with an approved tenancy deposit scheme. TDS Northern Ireland is a tenancy deposit protection scheme approved by the Northern Ireland Executive.

TDS Northern Ireland Limited is a subsidiary of the Dispute Service Limited, a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee which also operates the Tenancy Deposit Scheme in England and Wales and is a key partner in the Safedeposits Scotland tenancy deposit scheme. TDS Northern Ireland is designed to ensure that tenancy deposits are securely held and protected and that disputes about their return are resolved quickly, cheaply and fairly.

What do the regulations mean for landlords?

Any tenancy deposit accepted by a landlord on or after 1st April 2013 must be registered with an approved scheme (such as TDS Northern Ireland).

The landlord (or their agent) Northern Property must:

• Within 14 days of receipt of the deposit register the deposit with an approved scheme; and
• Within 28 days of receipt of the deposit, serve prescribed information on the tenant and any relevant person

What if the landlord does not comply with the regulations?

Should a landlord fail to protect deposits and/or provide information in accordance with the Regulations then this is a breach of the regulations and a landlord can be subject to a fixed penalty imposed by the district council of three times the deposit or a fine of up to £20,000.

Inventories

One of the biggest headaches that landlords have to deal with is managing the inventory in their property. Disputes arise all with tenants claiming that property was never there or that it was already damaged. Northern Property is highly skilled at this type of management and will be able to ensure that your inventory is properly managed.

Here are just some of the services that we will be able to offer.

• If you have an unfurnished property then we will take digital photographs of all areas of the building. We will take responsibility for storing this documentary evidence and we will reproduce it for you should the need arise. This can then be later used if there is any damage that the tenant is denying responsibility for causing
• If you have a partially or fully furnished property we will be able to photograph your full inventory and produce this should any disputes arise with the tenants
• Problem with inventory disputes is common so this is a highly recommended service

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

If you are selling or leasing a property you will be expected to produce an EPC; it is a legal requirement since 2008. Once you are issued with this certificate it is valid for 10 years providing there are no major construction works carried out in the property. This EPC will rate your building's energy performance on a scale from 'A' which means 'very energy efficient' to 'G' which means 'not energy efficient'. On January 2013 the department agreed the EPC's must be displayed on all marketing sources. (i.e. internet, display brochures, press advertisements etc. Properties cannot be advertised for sale or rent without showing the graphical representation and EPC rating. The rating must be displayed on Brochures, window display, websites newspapers, publications and rental lists etc.

Northern Property will be able to arrange for your EPC so that you can legally lease/sell your property.

Gas

Landlords have specific duties for Gas Safety and these include having gas pipework, appliances and chimneys/flues checked for safety by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The responsibilities are laid out in the relevant gas safety legislation, such as the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 in Great Britain.

The Three specific duties for landlords to keep their tenants safe include:

Annual Gas Safety checks

To make sure that any gas appliances and flue provided for tenants are safe for continued use, landlords must arrange for them to be checked for safety every twelve months by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Record

A record of this annual gas safety check will include specific information. A copy of the gas safety record must be provided to an existing tenant within twenty eight days of the check being completed or to new tenants before they move in. Landlords must keep copies of the record for two years.

Maintenance

Maintenance arrangements should normally involve a series of regular inspections and any necessary repairs. Landlords must ensure that gas pipework is maintained in a safe condition. Gas appliances and flues provided for the tenants use must also be maintained in a safe condition. Gas appliances and flues should be serviced in accordance with manufacturer's instructions but if these are not available, annual servicing is recommended unless advised otherwise by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Electrical Responsibilities

There is no statutory obligation on landlords or agents to have professional checks carried out on the electrical system or appliances. However under Common Law and various regulations 'the landlord and Tenant Act 1985', 'The Housing Act 2004'. 'The Electrical Equipment (safety) regulations 1994' and 'the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety)Regulations 1994'. All of which come under 'The Consumer Protection Act 1987', there is an obligation to ensure that all electrical equipment is safe.

In January 2005 new legislation under part P of the building Regulations make it a requirement that for certain types of electrical work in dwellings, plugs, garages, sheds, greenhouses and outbuilding comply with the standards. This means a competent electrician must carry out the work. As your managing agent we can arrange the following at a competitive rate;

Electrical Installation Condition Report (previously known as Periodic Inspection and Testing or Fixed Wire Testing or NICIAC Report) prefereable every three years. Portable and Fixed Appliance Testing (required annually).