PROPERTY OWNERS
PROPERTY OWNERS - PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Leeds Accommodation Bureau has been successfully letting properties in Leeds and the surrounding areas since 1981.
We have gained an excellent reputation in property lettings and management.
We have a constant turnover of clients looking to rent properties in Leeds and the surrounding areas.
We let properties from detached houses - semi detached- cottages-terraced houses and city centre apartments.
We have invested in the latest computer technology. Online we upload and market your property to the leading Property portals Zoopla and On the Market
With our extensive experience and dedicated staff we offer a comprehensive quality Full Property Management Service or a Let Only Service.
FULL MANAGEMENT SERVICE:
This is the service that most landlords choose and includes the following:
- Accompanied viewings
- Finding suitable tenants
- Comprehensive referencing
- Preparation of a Tenancy Agreement and all legal documents
- Erecting a TO LET board
- Advising on property refurbishments
- Collect a deposit and register it with one of the government schemes
- Informing all utility companies of a change in tenancy
- Regular visits to the property and reports to the landlord.
- Collecting Rent and Preparing statements
- Advising – on non- resident tax status and HMRC deductions if relevant
- Arrange for the mandatory annual gas safety inspection
- Arrange for general repairs or maintenance to be carried out.
- At the end of each tenancy we will check the property and agree deductions between the landlord and tenant.(If an agreement cannot be reached then issues will be referred to the relevant body for arbitration). This service is included in the Full Management service only
- Renewal of contracts
LET ONLY SERVICE:
The Let Only service includes the following:
- Finding a suitable tenant
- Provide guidance on compliance with statutory provisions
- Includes advertising the property with relevant online marketing portals and professional photography
- Erect a TO LET board
- Accompanied viewings
- Includes the negotiating of the terms of the tenancy and preparing the tenancy agreement together with legal documents
- Informing all utility companies of a change in tenancy
- Advising on property refurbishments
- Advising – on non- resident tax status and HMRC deduction if relevant
- Collecting and remitting the rent less deducting the Let Only fee and any other works
- Collecting a deposit which can be lodge with one of the government schemes or forward to the landlord for lodgement with a government scheme.
- Preparing statements
LANDLORD COMPLIANCE:
Anti-Money Laundering Regulations 2017:
The Money Laundering 2017 act means that Leeds Accommodation Bureau must obtain and hold identification and proof of address for all our clients.
To comply with the act, we require one of the following items from list A and one from list B
List A (Identity Documents):
- Current signed passport
- Valid UK driving licence
- EEA member state identity card
List B (Proof of address):
- UK/EU/EEA Drivers Licence (If UK driver Licence used as ID Must be valid – not expired - Photo only – Full or provisional
- Bank – Building Society - Credit Card Statement or Credit Unions Statement dated within 3 months - Must include account number and show recent activity
- UK – EU – EEA Mortgage statement must be dated within 12 months and show account number
- Council Tax & Utility Bills - Council tax - Gas - Electricity – Water. Must be dated within 6 months and must show address for service and account number.
- Telephone Bill dated within 6 months and must show address and show address for service and account number
- Tenancy Agreement Dated within 12 months - Must state full name and full property address. Issued by letting agent solicitors or council/housing association
- HMRC Tax Notification Dated within 6 months. Must show national insurance number and tax calculation.
- Home or Motor Insurance Certificate dated with 12 months. Must state insured address or registration address for the vehicle and policy number
- UK solicitors letter confirming house purchase registration - Dated within 3 months and must date full name of new proprietor and full property address
- NHS Medical card or letter from GP confirming registration Dated within 3 months. Must state individual date of birth and NHS number
- Official confirmation of Electoral Registration entry or official poll car must be dated within 12 months and must state full name and full address.
- Police Registration Certificate dated within 12 months and must state the full residential address of the individual
LIMITED COMPANY:
If you are representing a Limited company, we will require the following:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Articles of Association
- Memorandum of Association
- Latest Annual Return of Confirmation Statement with details of current company officers
OFFSHORE:
If offshore nominee director:
- Declaration and a general power of attorney Individual identity evidence from List A and B for all individuals with a 25% or more of the shares or voting rights in the company
If you act as a Representative of an Offshore Company, we will require the following:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Articles of Association - Memorandum of Association - Latest Annual return with details of current company officers
- Share Certificates showing the Ultimate Beneficial Owner or Certificate of Incumbency
- Nominee director declaration and /or general Power of Attorney (if applicable)
- Individual identity evidence from List A and List B for all individuals or entities with 25% or more of the shares or voting rights in the company.
If the shares are owned by another company all the above is required for the holding company as well as the following:
- Nominee director declaration and /or general Power of Attorney (if applicable)
TRUST:
If you are acting as a representative of a Trust, we require the following:
- Police Registration Certificate dated within 12 months and must state the full residential address of the individual
- Trust Deed
- List of trustees
- List of beneficiaries
- Individual Identity evidence from List A and List B for all individuals with a vested interest and who exercise control over the Trust
PROBATE:
If you act as a Representative of an Estate, the following is required:
- Grant of Probate
- Letter of administration
- Identity and proof of address from List A and B for the Personal Representative either Executor or administrator
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE:
All residential rental properties must have an EPC - This is prepared by a qualified Energy Assessor.
The property is inspected and a detailed report covering heating – double glazing - insulation etc is prepared.
The EPC covers energy efficiency and carbon emissions.
The property has an energy efficiency rating from A (being the most efficient) to G (being least efficient).
The EPC certificate is valid for 10 years.
Leeds Accommodation Bureau can arrange this for you at a cost of £90.00 inclusive of VAT
THE GAS SAFETY (INSTALLATION AND USE) REGULATIONS:
All properties with gas appliances must have a Gas Safety Certificate this is to ensure that all the gas appliances and gas pipework including central heating boilers – gas heaters – gas fires – gas cookers – gas flues are properly installed and are maintained in a safe condition.
The gas safety inspection must be carried out by a qualified member of the Gas Safe Register annually and a certificate is issued.
THE ELECTRICAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1994:
Landlords have a legal duty to ensure that their rental property and any electrical equipment provided is safe to use.
The legal requirement is that the property is inspected every 5 years from when the installation was first put into service.
It is not a requirement to have electrical installations checked annually.
The Electrician compiling the report may recommend a shorter interval before the next inspection based upon the findings of the inspection and testing that has been carried out.
If necessary, we can arrange for the electrics to be re-tested.
Any test certificates and electrical reports that the property owner has must be supplied to the agents.
The legal duty requirement is that the landlord must ensure that all electrical appliances are safe to use.
SMOKE & CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM REGULATIONS (2015):
The 2015 Smoke & Carbon monoxide alarm regulations require all landlords to have a least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their property with a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a solid fuel burning appliance – coal fire wood burning stove an open fire place.
The landlord must ensure that on the First Day of the tenancy the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms are in working order.
The tenants are made aware that it is their responsibility during the tenancy to check the Alarms are in working order on a regular basis.
If they are not working the tenants must report the fault to Leeds Accommodation Bureau.
THE FIRE & FURNISHING SAFETY REGULATIONS ACT 1988:
All upholstered furniture in a property must comply with the above regulations - sofas - settees - seat pads – pillows – beds - head boards – mattresses – futons – bean bags - arm chairs – scatter cushions made after 1950 must be fire resistant and must carry a label to this effect.
All furniture in the property must comply with these regulations.
Any unlabelled furniture is classed as non-compliant (unless it is antique horsehair fitted and has not been re upholstered).
CLEAN AND CHECK IN:
All rental properties must be clean and tidy when a tenant moves in. An Inventory and a Schedule of Condition to be carried out at the commencement of the tenancy to record the state and condition of the property.
Preparing an Inventory and Schedule of Condition at the beginning of the tenancy may help to reduce disputes when the final inspection takes place at the end of the tenancy.
This makes both the move-in and move-out process run smoothly and helps minimise disagreements and delays when claiming for cleaning or costs /damages at the end of a tenancy.
The property will be thoroughly checked at the end of each tenancy.
Costs/deductions for any cleaning/damages or any other issues raised at the final inspection are agreed between landlord and tenant, and we will do everything we can to reach an agreement.
Should an agreement not be reached between the landlord and the tenant regarding the costs/deductions then the matter will be referred to the relevant body for arbitration.
Both parties - the landlord and tenant must accept the decision of the Adjudicator. (service included on Full Management only)
RIGHT TO RENT:
Under Government legislation it is a legal requirement to thoroughly check a tenants right to rent a property in the UK.
LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE:
A form of pneumonia that is caused by inhalation of droplets of water containing the Legionella bacteria.
While uncommon, it is the responsibility of all landlords to assess their properties for risk.
A very simple initial assessment will show if water systems in your properties are at risk. Most normal domestic systems are considered low-risk due to the regular usage and flow of water, limiting standing water.
Leeds Accommodation Bureau can introduce you to an expert who can assess your property for Legionella and provide you with a report.
TENNACY DEPOSIT SCHEMES:
Government legislation demands that tenants’ deposits must be held in a government-authorized Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. This is if you rent your home on an assured shorthold tenancy that started after 6 April 2007.
There are several government schemes available and the deposit will be held in a custodial scheme or an insurance-based scheme:
CUSTODIAL SCHEME:
The deposit is held by the scheme and not by the agent or landlord. The scheme is funded by the interest earned on the deposits it holds.
The custodial scheme is completely free to use.
INSURANCE-BASED SCHEME:
An insurance-based scheme- the agent or (landlord) holds money in a separate client account. The agent (or landlord) is charged a fee for each tenancy agreement. It lets the agent (or the landlord) hold the deposit whilst complying with your legal obligations.
All current schemes offer both Custodial and Insurance Based services.