Whether you’re renting out your property for the first time, or have many different properties with different requirements, there can always be something you feel you need some more information on.
Please find some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from landlords.
Yes. Mortgages and their conditions vary, please speak with your lender to ensure you have the right permissions prior to marketing your property. If you are buying a property with for investment purposes, speak to your lender about a buy-to-let mortgage.
Let us do the hard work for you! Belvoir Belfast offer a no obligation, free of charge, valuation service. Call us to arrange an appraisal today! We will meet you or your tenant at the property and give you advice on how much your property is worth for both rental and sales. We can also provide you with information on the excellent services we offer for both rental and sales properties.
This, again, is entirely your decision. Our valuations team can assist you in recommending what is best for your rental yield at the property. Please bear in mind, furniture and appliances are other items that you will need to continue to maintain should they breakdown during tenancy. Furniture and appliances also need to be compliant with legal requirements, such as fire regulations. For more information on whether your furniture is compliant please look at our landlord’s legal requirements page.
Finding a quality tenant is vital for a smooth tenancy. Here at Belvoir Belfast, we do all the hard work for you. As per our referencing criteria, an applicant must pass the below, before being allowed to rent one of our properties;
Choosing whether to manage your property yourself or to use an agent really depends on your lifestyle and availability. Whilst you could oversee the property yourself, choosing to have an agent to manage your property gives you full peace of mind throughout your tenancy. No late night phone calls, regarding maintenance issues – we have emergency contacts for that. No worrying over an empty property and the lack of rental income – we market your property to thousands of potential tenants everyday through Property Pal, Rightmove and Zoopla and our own Belvoir Website. No confusion over ever-changing landlord legal requirements – we are fully up to date on any changing laws, and will inform you also. And most importantly, no concerns about dealing with rental arears or deposit disputes – we will mediate all areas of complaint and dispute for your property from beginning to end of each tenancy and in between too, in order to ensure the best outcome possible for yourself.
This really depends on how much support you need. At Belvoir Belfast we offer two service levels; ‘Let Only’ and ‘Managed’. Each requires a different level of involvement from Belvoir and the fees we charge reflect this. This is another area our agents will discuss with you fully at a property valuation, that way we can help tailor make our service to best suit you.
YES! Never let out your property without a detailed, and signed, statement of condition. This needs to include the property itself, all fixtures, and fittings, as well as any supplied furniture and appliances. It is important to have proof of its condition, in case of any disputes about damages at the end of a tenancy. Here at Belvoir Belfast, we ensure an inspection is carried out and a highly detailed inventory report produced with plenty of photographic evidence, prior to each tenancy, to protect you and your property.
An EPC is an ‘Energy Performance Certificate’. This is a report which details the energy efficiency of the property, and provides it with a rating from A – G. This is valid for 10 years and is a legal requirement for all rented properties. For more information on this and how to obtain one for your property please look at our landlord’s legal requirements page.
This is a certificate obtained after the yearly check is carried out on all gas appliances in the property. Any property with a gas supply is legally required to perform this check once a year, to ensure all appliances are still safe to use. This must be carried out by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. For more information on this and how to obtain one for your property please look at our landlord’s legal requirements page.
It is your responsibility to ensure that any appliances, and the property itself, are safe for tenants to use and in a lettable standard. Whilst it is not currently a legal requirement to have an electrical safety certificate for your property, we do recommend obtaining an EICR – an Electrical Installation Condition Report so you can be sure you are compliant with current standards and requirements. For more information on this and how to obtain one for your property please look at our landlord’s legal requirements page.
Landlords and letting agents are legally required to register all tenants’ deposits with an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Belvoir Belfast recommends TDS.
If you choose a Managed service with us, we will instruct the tenant to pay the rent via standing order to ourselves. We will then transfer the money to your chosen account, minus our commission and any outgoings or fees (such as maintenance works). You will also receive a statement every month.
If you choose a Let Only service with us, we will provide your new tenants with your chosen account details and instruct them to set up a standing order into your account.
Do I Have To Pay Tax On My Rental Income?
All landlords could be liable to pay tax on their rental income; this differs based on whether you live in the UK or are overseas. Further information can be found on the Inland Revenue’s website.
If you chose a managed service with Belvoir Belfast, we would arrange and carry out regular inspections of your property at least twice a year. We will then compile and send on to you a detailed report of any issues raised by your tenants, or anything we notice regarding the property and how it is being kept. This way you can rest assured if there are any problems with the property itself or how the tenants are keeping it, we will be on top of it, and you will always be kept in the know!
During tenancy if a tenant damages something, we will request they have this repaired. This must be done to the same standard the item was in prior to the damage. If something is found to have been damaged after a tenant has vacated, the repairs for this can be claimed from the tenants’ deposit. In regard to minor damage (such as scuffed paintwork for example) we must allow for fair wear and tear of a property, and please be aware, that décor and items in rental properties do tend to deteriorate faster than in residential properties.
If you are on our managed service, we take full responsibility of liaising with your tenant and organising any required repairs to your property or items you have provided (e.g., appliances). We have local contractors on call, who we work with regularly, from all required trades. Please be assured that we will consult with yourself for permission before carrying out repairs unless further damage could occur from not taking rapid action.
Sometimes properties and tenants do fall into rental arrears, this needs to be managed swiftly and correctly to ensure the best possible outcome. At Belvoir Belfast we have a dedicated accounts team on hand to manage these issues should they arise for you, and to provide help and advice on the best course of action, every step of the way.
We hope that the above has helped to answer some of your queries, but if you are still unsure of anything please contact our dedicated sales and lettings staff for additional information on any part of buying, selling or renting out a property.
