Property Management in Bath

Yes – if you decide to rent out your property, you will need to let your mortgage lender know. Letting it without permission could be in breach of your contract.

The amount of rent you charge your tenants should be a percentage of your home’s market value. There are plenty of rent calculators out there to assist you with figuring out the correct rental amount for you and your property. We can advise you on what the going rental rates are in your area for the type of property you have.

There are various fees and service costs involved in letting a property, including property management services, letting fees, and deposit collection costs. At Zest, we offer inclusive packages that encompass a range of fees all in one pre-agreed service – you can check out our list of lettings packages for more information.

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Hiring some additional support can make the letting process less stressful, more streamlined, and often ensures all parties on the rental agreement are kept in check with the clauses they sign up to.

You will need to place your tenant’s deposit into a government backed deposit protection or insurance scheme to ensure it’s kept safe and secure throughout the duration of their stay, after which it will be returned to them depending on the state of the property and any potential damages involved.

Implementing an inventory ensures you are protected when it comes time for the tenant to move out. If they have inflicted any damage on the property or your possessions, the inventory will prove so, making the tenant liable to provide necessary payment, either themselves or through their deposit at the end of the tenancy. The check in report covers the cleanliness of every aspect of your property, including any appliances, and is used at the end of the tenancy to ensure your property is returned to the same level of cleanliness.

It is a legal requirement to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when your property is rented out. Your property’s EPC needs to be available to potential buyers as soon as you start to market your property for sale or rent. At Zest, we offer EPC ratings as part of our package in the instance where landlords don’t already have one.

To keep your buy to let property a safe space for tenants to rent, there are certain legal requirements that cover everything from gas appliances, fittings, chimneys, and flues to ensure efficiency in durability and minimise risk. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 outline everything landlords need to know to keep in line with the correct safety practices.

To be fit for renting, a buy to let property must comply with the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, which includes regular inspections and tests from a qualified professional at an interval of at least every five years.

You can do this by checking the label of items of furniture, which should not be removed. This will give you all the necessary information on the materials used to make the item.

This is dependent on the clauses set out in the tenancy agreement – usually, the tenants will set up a direct debit or standing order  to the estate agent, who will then pay out the money to you.

As a landlord, you need to pay income tax on any rent you receive from your property for the duration of a tenancy’s stay.

You may, but only if you have given the tenants proper notice prior to entering (unless there’s an emergency).

The tenant is liable to pay council tax for the duration of their stay.

The tenant is liable to pay for the TV licence for the duration of their stay.

This is a visit conducted by the estate agent or landlord of a property, where an inspection is conducted to check how the tenants are treating the property and ensure it’s being properly looked after. While the landlord does have legal rights to access and survey the home, there is no right to immediate access unless there’s an emergency – landlords are required to give 24 hours notice prior to inspections. Entering the property without proper reason is against the law.

If the tenant has caused any damage to the property during their stay, they will be liable to pay you and cover any necessary costs as per the terms set out in the tenancy agreement.

First things first – get in touch with your tenant and see what’s going on. Make sure to keep a record of any correspondence in case things escalate. By failing to pay rent, the tenant has legally broken the terms of the tenancy agreement, meaning you can serve them a Section 8 notice at any point in their tenancy. This acts as a warning, rather than an eviction order – it seeks possession of the property and provides advance warning that the tenant needs to vacate. The notice must first be judged valid to be enforceable by a court.

Depending on the situation and the reasons for removal, you may be able to evict a tenant if you have the proper grounds to, for example, if they haven’t paid their rent or if they have caused damage to your property.

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme was brought about in 1990 to offer tenants and property agents an alternative dispute resolution service in the case of any unfair practice, such as ignoring legal rights, unfair treatment, or not following through with any agreements.

The Right to Rent check must take place prior to a tenancy starting – private landlords and agents are legally required to check the immigration status of all tenants who will be living in the property.

There are several ways to improve your property’s EPC rating – you can up your loft and wall insulation, replace old boilers, install double glazing, or install energy-efficient lighting. At Zest, we offer EPC ratings as part of our package in the instance where landlords don’t already have one.

In general, it is advised to only consider rental increases in annual cycles or once the pre-agreed fixed term contract has come to an end. If the tenant disagrees with the rent spike, the best course of action would likely be to end the tenancy once the fixed term has finished.