landlord information

Transcription

1 landlord information where do i start? NEW PROPERTY INSPECTION - THE VALUATION PROCESS Joining our LUSU Lets headlease scheme could not be easier. Interested property owners should contact LUSU Living to arrange a New Property Inspection. At this inspection the property owner will meet a member of the Housing Team at the property, where a full inspection of the property and its fittings will be undertaken resulting in an appraisal of the property enabling LUSU Living to assess suitability. Recommendations may be made to the property owner with a Schedule of Works agreed where necessary. This inspection process also provides an opportunity for the Housing Team to further explain our LUSU Lets scheme and answer any questions the property owner may have, while gaining sufficient information to enable LUSU Living to begin marketing the property. Further to this Inspection LUSU Living will provide the property owner with a formal offer. This offer will include an annual guaranteed rent that LUSU are prepared of pay for the property once suitable tenants have been secured. There are no additional or hidden charges when a property owner decides to join the LUSU Lets scheme. The rent guarantee offer is what the property owner will be paid. what is the cost? LUSU Living do not charge the property owner a fee, rather we make a rent offer based on the number of beds available in their property. This rental income is guaranteed once suitable tenants are secured with NO additional management charges deducted. For a guide to current weekly rents being offered to our LUSU Let property owners contact LUSU Living. Unlike other providers we do not charge any start-up fees or make any surcharges during the term of our lease agreements. Our standard undergraduate shared household lease is for 45/46/48-weeks. Smaller family homes/flats are generally marketed to Post Graduate students and members of staff. In this instance property owners will be offered a 50 week lease to cover the entire academic year with only a 2 week vacant period. All our leases are supplemented by a week summer license, which means the property remains exempt from Council Tax during the summer vacation, while the properties vacant period allows for an inspection, cleaning, general repairs, planned maintenance and refurbishment where necessary. NB. Because all LUSU Let charges are deducted at source from the students rent, rather than a fee paid by the landlord out of their annual rent LUSU do not charge our landlords VAT on management fees. It is therefore the landlord s responsibility to do their own accounts and seek independent advice in respect of their tax liability. 1

2 what are the key advantages of the LUSU lets management scheme? PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS During the period of the tenancy LUSU Living will act on your behalf regarding all property and tenancy matters. Management charges made in respect of our services are deducted from student rents prior to the rent being paid to the property owner. LUSU Living arrange all viewings and draw up all leases. Once leases have been signed by a group of suitable tenants, then the property owner will be provided with a lease. LUSU collect and hold all monies due in respect of the lease, and it is also LUSU s responsibility to return any due monies relating to the lease agreement..lusu provide free buildings and contents insurance for all our shared properties through McLaren Neve LUSU offer free day to day repairs up to a value of 100 and 24/7 Homecare cover through Progress +, This cover includes a landlords gas certificate and is included within our shared household lease arrangement LUSU provide white goods cover with free repairs/replacements up to a value of 100 for all our shared household properties Regular inspections and a dedicated cleaning service is provided for all shared household properties In addition to the core processes listed above the Scheme offers the following advantages to property owners: GUARANTEED RENT PAYMENTS Once a lease is signed with LUSU then, provided the property owner complies with the terms and condition of the lease and related offer letter, rent payments are guaranteed for the duration of the lease. Although, all offers are subject to LUSU finding suitable tenants. LUSU DO NOT use parental guarantors, unlike other management services, and we do not make any additional charges to our property owners where legal action and related advice is deemed necessary to collect rents or undertake possessions proceedings. Instead LUSU Housing Ltd underwrites the rents to ensure they are paid to our property owners in line with our lease. MARKETING & PROMOTIONS LUSU provide a full marketing service for all our properties which includes web adverts, direct marketing through LUSU Living, campus wide housing talks, adverts in our LUSU newspaper SCAN, promotions as well as various marketing campaigns throughout the academic year. 2

3 what standards must be met? All properties offered to LUSU will be inspected for suitability and to assess an appropriate rent. Properties advertised and managed through LUSU must be registered on Lancaster City Council Accredited Property Scheme and comply with licensing regulations where appropriate. Guaranteed rental offers are based on the number of bedrooms (one tenant only per bedroom), the condition of the property, location and facilities provided. Properties should be situated in south Lancaster and within a reasonable travelling distance from the University. Properties must be in a good state of repair and have modern kitchen and bathroom facilities, suitable for the proposed number of tenants. The houses must be furnished to a good standard and meet required legislation such as providing fire retardant furniture. Must be self-contained and provide vacant possession we do not take part-let properties Houses must provide a fully fitted kitchen to include a washing machine, microwave etc See full schedule of fixtures and fittings provided at the end of this booklet Lounge/diner must be large enough for the number of designated tenants and must include a television aerial and an active telephone line Bathroom/W.C must be clean and modern with an electric shower as standard Bedrooms must be of an appropriate size smaller rooms may be offered a reduced rent. Lounges, study bedrooms and kitchens must have adequate natural lighting. Heating must be safe and efficient, gas central heating or modern electric storage heaters.. Properties must have a current energy performance certificate. NB. Requirements are provided as a guide and may vary depending on size and type of property and the requirements of Lancaster City Council s Accredited Property Scheme and licensing regulations, as well as LUSU s own requirements. If the property has been purchased with a mortgage loan, the building society or bank providing the loan must confirm in writing that they agree to the property being let. A sample copy of the contract can be provided upon request. 3

4 statutory requirements ELECTRICITY AND GAS SAFETY LUSU Living provide a free Gas Safety certificate and an Electrical Domestic Visual Condition Report as part of our rent offer for all our shared household properties Whilst the property owner is responsible for providing a current Electrical Domestic Periodic Report issued by a registered NIC EIC engineer LUSU are able to assist with this requirement. FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR FURNISHINGS Any furniture supplied by a property owner, as part of any rented accommodation must satisfy the requirements in the regulations dealing with ignitability and labelling. LUSU offer subsidised furniture packs to include bedroom sets and 3 piece suites to help ensure all furnishings meet regulations as well as tenant expectations. how are repairs managed? Even the best houses need repairing from time to time. Our aim is to ensure that property repairs are carried out both promptly and effectively. Tenants have a duty to report repairs to LUSU Living as soon as practically possible. Under the terms of LUSU s Shared Household Repairs Arrangement LUSU accept responsibility for those day to day repairs which occur during the tenancy up to a value of VAT per repair. Exclusions from this agreement relate to repairs emanating from before the commencement of LUSU s lease, any scheduled works for which the Property Owner is responsible, any refurbishment (including furnishings) and all routine redecoration. This agreement also excludes any works relating to the Property Owners legislative requirements, for example, gas and electricity certificates, HHSRS and Licensing requirements, all gas and electrical works including any works covered by Progress Plus or similar. LUSU s liability also excludes any structural and external repairs (to include work relating to garden areas), and any repairs arising out of inherent defects. Works completed under this agreement will be undertaken by a contractor of LUSU s choice. 4

5 what are the LUSU let furnishing requirements? LOUNGE Three-piece suit or easy chairs for the number of tenants Coffee table & TV unit Curtains A waste paper basket A minimum of 2 double electrical power sockets Suitable flooring such as carpets KITCHEN Cooker (minimum 4 rings) Washing Machine Microwave Large fridge/freezer (single fridge with small freezer compartment is not acceptable) Additional provision made for houses with 6 or more tenants Cupboards at least one fitted unit per tenant plus communal cupboard for pots and pans Adequate work surface equivalent to 1 meter per tenant An ironing board A large waste bin Dustpan and brush Mop/bucket Long handle broom Vacuum cleaner Fire blanket A minimum of 3 double electrical power sockets BATHROOM/WC Bathroom cabinet/cupboard/shelves Mirror Pedestal and bath mat Waste bin Curtains or roller blind if necessary Laminated or lino flooring not carpet Electric Shower or Plumbed in shower [with shower curtain or panel if over bath] BEDROOMS Bed preference towards4 or 4 6 Mattress Wardrobe Chest of drawers Desk/work table Office chair Bookshelves/bookcase Curtains Waste paper basket A minimum of 2 double electrical power sockets 5

6 GENERAL All furniture must be in good condition at the start of all tenancies. Suitable Flooring must be provided throughout. Property Owner accepts responsibility for maintaining garden areas but LUSU can undertake this work on behalf of the property owner if requested Houses must have thumb turn locks on front and back doors and all ground floor windows should be made safe with window locks. An active telephone line and television aerial must be provided in the designated living room, but we do not expect owners to provide telephones or televisions. Light bulbs and lampshades must be provided throughout NB. Property owners are also responsible for providing replacement fluorescent lights and fitted spotlights. what insurance cover do i need? LUSU provide free buildings and contents insurance for all our shared household properties. Whilst Property Owners of Postgraduate and family properties managed through LUSU are provided with access to low cost student accommodation buildings insurance through McLaren Neve. why do i need to provide a character reference? Part of the LUSU Lets requirements involves owners providing a character reference. This personal reference is a best practice requirement as identified by our auditors and is aimed at safeguarding the scheme and our tenants from unsuitable landlords. what if i live abroad? Non-UK resident property owners are advised to apply for a Non Resident Approval Number as soon as possible as this enables LUSU to make payments to property owners without deducting tax. NRL1 forms are available from your local tax office or online from the Inland Revenue website. how can i contact the housing office to arrange a new property inspection? If you are interested in benefiting from our LUSU Lets Scheme or have any questions you would like us to answer, please call into the LUSU Living office, telephone or lusu.living@lancaster.ac.uk. We are open Monday to Friday,10-4pm, 50 weeks a year (Closed Christmas and Easter Weeks Only) 6