Property Management Dundee

Q. How do I collect rent?

A&S Properties guarantee that you'll recieve same day rent transfers via BACS transfer, along with a statement by email. The majority of rents are recieved on the first of every month; however, 70% of rents are paid before the first and Landlords are paid before due date.

Q. When should I register as a landlord?

You need to register as a landlord prior to your property being advertised, and should be done with with your local authority. Legislation currently states that you must be a 'fit and proper person' and that your landlord registration number is to be included in all adverts.

Q. Why should I use a letting agent, and how do I pick the right one?

For peach of mind you should use an accredited agent, such as LAS, SAL or ARLA. Being accredited is recognised by mortgage lenders.

When looking to choose the correct agent for you, look for professionalism, value and a dedicated team.

Q. What should my rental value be?

For expert advice on what your rental value should be, get in touch with A&S Properties. A member of our team would be delighted to visit your property and offer our free advice on what you can expect.

Q. Who pays for utility bills and council tax?

As per the tenancy agreement, tenants are responsible for all bills, including all utilities and council tax.

The inventory provider will record readings of metres and contact local authorities to provide details of new tenants moving in.

Q. What happens when a repair is needed?

Working with our network of local tradesman, who we can rely on 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Quotes can be obtained and passed to Landlord before any repairs are carried out unless we deem it an emergency situation.

Q. What if the tenant damages the property?

There are two options in this case:
1. The tenant pays for the repairs for damages
2. The cost for repairs is taken from the security deposit when the tenancy ends.

Q. When do you inspect the inspected?

The initial inspection will be carried out within a month of the tenancy agreement being signed. After this time, they are carried out quarterly.

Q. Can I enter the property during the tenancy?

Entry to the property is only possible after issuing an appropriate notice to the current tenant.

Q. What if rent isn't paid by the tenant?

A&S Properties will act your agent, pursue the tenant within 48-hours of rent arrears by email and telephone.

Thereafter, arrear notices will be issued on day four along with door visits if the tenant has not been in contact. After 28 days, we recommend the arrears to be handed to a legal team.

At A&S Properties, we recommend that the Landlord takes out rent guarantee insurance, which can cover all rent arrears and legal expenses.

Q. Should I tell my mortgage lender of my intentions to rent out my property?

Yes, you should inform your mortgage lender as they need to give permission before your property can be let out. They may impose special conditions, such as an increase in interest rate. If you are buying a property with the inital intention of letting it out, you might be able to obtain a buy-to-let mortgage.

Q. What if I wish to remove my tenant?

You would need to contact our office and ask the team to issue the current tenant with a two-months’ notice to quit. After this, if tenants refuse to vacate, legal action will be required.

Q. Does a Landlord pay tax on rental income?

Landlords can be liable to pay tax on their rental income, whether based in the UK or are based overseas. More information can be found on the Inland Revenue's website.

Q. Do you screen tenants?

Yes, all potential tenants are all screened by a full credit and reference check.

Q. What's required for compliance health and safety for my property?

The following compliance needs to be carried out and information provided to tenants before a tenancy being signed. All information must be included with the Tenant Information Pack (TIP) following Scottish Legislation. At A&S Properties we have the following compliance works which are carried out, removing all the hassle for you. We can negotiate for you to obtain special discounted rates from our network of local accredited tradesmen with no extra charge.

EPC: An Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC for short, is a report detailing the energy efficiency of a property. It gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years. All landlords are required to purchase an EPC for a property before they let it and values must be shown within all advertising.

Gas Safe Certificate

A Gas Safety Record (GSR) is in place to ensure that all gas appliances, pipes and flues are in safe working order. A qualified Gas Safe Register engineer must carry it out and issue a certificate. This needs to be checked every 12 months, and a working Co2 detector must be in place and changed every 5 years.

EICR

An Electrical Installation Condition Report is in place to make sure all electrical wiring, fuse boards; sockets and switches are in safe working order. A qualified Select Electrician must carry it out and issue a certificate. This must be carried out every 5 Years.

PAT

You have a duty to your tenant(s) ensuring that any electrical devices within the property are safe for use. We recommend an Installation Survey or Portable Appliance Testing (PAT certificate), so you can be sure you are compliant should be carried out annually.

Legionella Testing

Recent changes to the HSE guidance have highlighted too many individuals the fact they need to perform risk assessments for legionella control in properties that they lease. These include duty holders towards your tenants within your property, landlords, and individuals affected by changes in legislation relating to the control of Legionella. The period of checks can vary after initial inspection from annually to every two years, depending on risk.

Fire Safety and Furniture

The Scottish Government has produced revised statutory guidance on the requirements for smoke alarms. A copy of the revised statutory guidance is available on the PRHP website by visiting www.prhpscotland.gov.uk.

However, the main points relative to smoke detectors are as follows.

The Domestic Technical Handbook states there should be at least:

One functioning smoke alarm in the room frequently used by the occupants for general daytime living purposes.
One heat alarm in every kitchen.
One functioning smoke alarm in every circulation space, such as hallways and landings.
All alarms should be interlinked.

Any upholstered furnishings provided by you the landlord should be fire-resistant.

Upholstered furniture includes:

Sofas, Sofa Beds, Futons and Armchairs
Beds, headboards and mattresses
Loose and stretch covers for furniture including cushions and seat pads
Curtain and Blinds

Inventory Condition Reports:

An inventory is a list of everything in the property that you are renting to your tenant (for example, furniture, carpets and curtains, kitchenware) and its condition also health and safety, e.g. Smoke alarms and detectors.

An inventory can help avoid a dispute because it proves what state the property was in when your tenant moved there. In particular, it can help if a dispute is lodged with a tenancy deposit scheme or PHRP (Private Housing Rental Panel).

It is in your best interest to provide an independent inventory because if anything is broken or damaged while you tenants are living there; the inventory shows it was not broken before your tenant moved in the property. On the other hand, if anything in the property is already damaged, the inventory proves you have made them aware.