Before You Rent

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Consents to Let

If your property is subject to a mortgage, your mortgage provider must consent to the rental. Your property may be subject to local authority regulations on short term rentals so please check with them. In addition, if your property is leasehold you will need permission from the freeholder. This can usually be obtained from the managing agent of the building.

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Insurance

It is vital that you protect yourself, your property and your contents with the right insurance products. We can provide information on insurance policies.

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Keys

You will need to provide the occupants with the equivalent of one set of keys for every bedroom in the property, plus a spare set for the occupants and one further set of keys will need to be held in our local branch.

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Manuals

Make a copy of any manuals or guides for your property and leave a copy for the occupants. It would also be advisable to leave a local area guide for your occupants.

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Professional Cleaning

Prior to occupation, all properties should be professionally cleaned. When the property is returned, the occupant is expected to do the same. Any outside space should also be left in seasonal good order.

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Safety Documentation Recommendations

• If your property has a gas supply, you will need to provide a valid Landlord’s Gas Safety Record every year that cover all gas appliances within the property.
• To ensure electrical safety, we recommend that a portable appliance test (PAT) is completed every year.
  We recommend a fixed wiring test at five yearly intervals.
• You must provide an Energy Performance Certificate for each property you wish to let if you are planning on letting out for more than four months in a year.
• All relevant furniture/ furnishings must comply with fire regulations.
• Smoke detectors should be installed on each floor of the property.
• Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed next to each gas appliance and in any room through which a flue runs.

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Sundry Maintenance

Where applicable, any chimneys should be swept and oil-fired boilers should be serviced and tanks filled (with instructions on how to check on fuel levels and how to order more). LPG bottles should be full as well. Please also ensure that every light bulb is working and that everything is in good working order in any associated buildings.

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Utility Bills

Please ensure that all utilities are set up and working prior to your occupant moving in. If you require assistance with setting these up please contact your local branch.

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Inventory, Check-In & Check-Out

We will happily arrange one of our approved inventory clerks to create a professional inventory for your property. This lists the contents of the property and the condition of its fixtures and fittings. On the day of move in, we will also arrange a check-in, which ensures that there is an accurate recording of the condition of the property when possession is granted to the occupant. We will also arrange a check-out on the last day of the occupancy to record the property condition in its final state. Please note that professional inventory documents are a necessity in the event of any possible future claims against the occupant’s deposit, particularly if you need to rely on adjudication.

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