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We have put together a list of websites for Landlords offering help, advice and tips which we hope you find useful.
National Landlords Association NLA
The NLA website is great website for Landlords which includes lots of useful information and advice to help you get started if your thinking about becoming a landlord in the UK. The website also includes some very useful advice and tips for lettings agents.
Landlord Expert
The Landlord expert site is another really useful website for Landlords. The website offers advice and help for landlords plus news and free landlord documents which you can download from the website.
http://www.landlordexpert.co.uk
Landlord Law
The landlord law website offers legal advice and tips for Landlords. They also offer landlord documents which you can download from the website plus much more. This is a must visit website if your a landlord in the UK.
DirectGov
UK government website DirectGov includes lots of useful TAX information for landlords lettings out property in the UK .
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/TaxOnPropertyAndRentalIncome/index.htm
Category : Blog
With the increase in rental prices for flats and apartments in London due to the demand for property more and more people are now considering a flat share in London instead of renting a flat or apartment on their own. Flat sharing is not for everyone as it has its advantages and disadvantages but if your looking to rent a flat or apartment in London its worth considering the following.
Advantages
Lower Costs
One of the big advantages of flat sharing is the cost to rent a property is lower as you are sharing the overall cost with someone else. This it not just the costs for renting the actually flat or apartment but also the communal charges, gas and electricity bills associated with renting the flat or apartment. Another financial advantage is you can split the cost of the deposit which can be up to 3 months rent in advance to secure the property.
Property & Location
You can get a better flat or apartment in a more desirable area of London which you normally may not be able to afford if you flat share with someone else. You will also reduce the time and cost to commute to work, university as you will be located closer to the city centre.
Social Benefits
A flat share is not all about saving money and getting a flat / apartment in a better area. If you have just moved to London it’s always nice to meet new people after work or during the weekend who you can socialize with. This is one of the big advantages to sharing a flat with someone else.
Security
Living with someone else in flat or apartment will give you a sense of security knowing that someone else is in the same property and if something should go wrong then you know someone else is close by to help
Disadvantages
The above outlines just some of the advantages to a flat share but it also has its disadvantages.
- You will be sharing the living space including the kitchen, bathroom, living room with some else every day.
- What if the relationship breaks down or the person you are sharing the property with has some unusual habits which you don’t like.
- What If the person is unable to pay the rent on time
- What if the person wants to leave the the property before the end of the tenancy agreement
- What if the person has caused some damage to the flat or apartment, who pays for the repairs, will this get deducted from their deposit.
Flat Share Websites
The following websites specialize in flat sharing which you may find useful
What ever option you choose we would recommend you do your research first before considering a flat share to weight up the pros and cons.
Category : Blog
Looking for a flat in London can be a stressful and time consuming task. We have created a list of tips which you may find useful in your search to find a flat in London.
Do Your Research
One of the most important things you can do before searching for a flat or apartment in London is to do your research.
Think about your budget, take into account other expenses associated with renting a flat including Gas, electric, council tax, communal rent, car parking, transport expenses (bus or tube) Be realistic about what you can get in London for your budget visit the London property watch site to view the average rental prices in London.
Think about transport links and the time it will take you to commute from home to work or university plus the cost associated with traveling to and from work or university in London. Visit the Transport for London website which includes lots of useful information to get you started.
Think about where you want to live and what you expect from the property based on the area you want to live in and price you want to pay. Visit the area first during the day and in the evening to get a good feel for what is happening. If your looking for a good social life checkout the pubs, bars and restaurants. Is their a local super market close by so you can pop out in the day or evening to get what you need?
Create a checklist or list of questions you want to ask the Landlord or letting agent. Some general questions you may wish to ask include what is included in the rental price and what is not included, if the flat or apartment is advertised as a furnished property what will be included and what is not included when you move in. Ask them how much the deposit will be, communal charges, car parking, bills. What references do they need from you before signing the contract? Will you get a receipt for your deposit?
View The Property
Always visit the flat or apartment you plan to rent before making a decision. Contact the Landlord or letting agent first and ask them some questions about the property before you arrange a viewing. When you do visit the property take a friend with you and create a quick checklist / questions which you want to ask the Landlord or letting agent during the viewing. Don’t take the flat or apartment on face value, the property may already be occupied and the tenant may still be living their so try and see what it will look like when it’s empty. Contact a few Landlords or letting agents before you travel to London to schedule the viewings in the morning and afternoon so you can get the most out of your time, also plan how you will get to each viewing and if your going to be late or don’t want to view the flat or apartment call the landlord or letting agent to cancel. You never know, you may need to contact them in the future if you move to a new property.
Property Inventory Checklist
When you view the property the Landlord or estate agent should provide you with an inventory checklist which will cover the general condition internally and externally of the property plus the items within the property. If they don’t provide you with one during the viewing make sure you have a notepad so you can make some notes plus bring a digital camera with you and take pictures, make sure the pictures are date stamped. Both you and the Landlord, letting agent should both sign the inventory document. The inventory checklist of very important and will help you recover all or part of the deposit.
Contracts
Read the tenancy agreement first before signing it, if you need time to read it in detail go to a coffee shop and have a good look through all the detail included in the contract. If you have any questions call the landlord or letting agent to get clarification. Always make sure you are dealing directly with the Landlord or letting agent who is responsible for letting the flat or apartment to rent in London. Always ask for a receipt for any money you hand over to the Landlord or letting agent.
Build Up a Good Relationship with the Landlord or Letting Agent
Try and get on the right side of the landlord or agent, don’t hit them with lots of negative questions during your visit, be friendly and courteous during your visit as you never know when you might need to ask them to help you out.
Be Prepared To Make a Decision
Good quality flats or apartments in the right location in London can be hard to find. In most cases more than one viewing will be arranged on the property and if you don’t take it someone else will. If you’re happy with everything you have seen be prepared to make a decision, have all the relevant documentation with you (references) and cheque book for the deposit to secure the flat or apartment.
Category : Blog
If your thinking about renting a flat or apartment in London we have put together a document which may help you when renting a flat or apartment in London.
References
A majority of landlords or letting agents in London will ask for references before letting a property to you. The information you may be asked for includes the following.
You may be asked for references from your previous landlords.
The Landlord or estate agent will complete a credit check on you to ensure you have a good credit history and can pay the rent and the bills on the flat or apartment
Details about your past and current employment to confirm you have an income to pay the rent and bills on the property you wish to let.
Banking details including bank name, bank account number, sort code which will be used to setup a standing order to pay the rent, bills on the flat or apartment in London.
If you are unable to provide the Landlord or letting agent with the some or all of the above information they may ask you to provide a guarantor before letting the property to you. If you are unable to pay the rent or damage the property the guarantor will be contractually liable to pay the outstanding rent or bills for the damage to the property.
Property Deposit
Once the reference check has being completed the Landlord or letting agent will ask for a deposit before you move into the flat or apartment. The deposit you will need to pay is between 2-3 months rent. The deposit will be held by the landlord or letting agent and returned to you (in full or in part) once you have given notice to confirm you will be leaving the property. The deposit is required to reduce the risk to the Landlord or letting agent in the event of the property being damaged or repairs being carried out on the property which where not present before you moved in.
If the property is damaged or repairs are required the Landlord or Estate agent may hold back some of your deposit to cover the cost to repair the property. It is very important that you complete a full and detailed inspection of the flat or apartment you plan to rent before signing the tenancy contract / agreement and moving into the property.
Some Landlords and Letting agents have signed up to the tenancy deposit scheme which is based on government legislation introduced in the Housing Act 2004 in April 2007 which protects both tenants and Landlords if any problems should arise in relation to the deposit. The tenancy deposit scheme is in place to safe guard the deposit for both parties plus it offers an alternative approach to resolving any issues outside of the small claim courts for tenants who want to recover all or part of the deposit.
Property Inventory Checklist
The inventory document is basically a checklist detailing all items contained within the property and the condition each item is in on the day you move into the property. The checklist will also cover the general condition of the property both internally and externally. The landlord or letting agent will go around the flat or apartment with you to check each item listed in the inventory document. It is also recommend you take a digital camera with you to take pictures which are date stamped of all the items and the property in general. The inventory document is very important as you can refer to the document or photos you have taken should you have any disputes with the landlord or letting agent after the leaving the property and recovering the deposit.
Tenancy Agreement
The tenancy agreement is a contract between you and the landlord / letting agent. The tenancy agreement should be signed by both you and your landlord / letting agent. If there are joint tenants, each person will receive a copy of the agreement. The tenancy agreement outlines specific rights which both you and the landlord / letting agent have agreed to. The rights included in the tenancy agreement my include the agreed term ( 6-12 months) to let the flat or apartment, agreed cost to rent the property, notice you are required to give the landlord or letting agent before leaving the property, landlords /letting agents responsibility for completing repairs on the property. You will also receive a rent book which by law the landlord is required to provide to you before renting the property to you.
The most common tenancy agreement used by Landlords or Letting agents is called the Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement which basically sets out the duties of both tenant and landlord. For more detailed information about the tenancy agreement visit communities government website and read the assured tenancy agreement which will provide you will all the information you need about the agreement.
Category : Blog
To get the latest updates about what is happening at the apartment to let London website follow us on twitter today. We will be updating twitter on a regular basis to keep follows upto date with the latest blog posts we write. We will also be updating twitter with the flats for sale plus apartments to let in London which get submitted to the website by landlords or estate agents.
Category : Blog
The apartment to let london website is an easy and affordable way for estate agents or Landlords to advertise flats for sale or apartments to let in London at the website.
If you run an estate agency with flats for sale or apartments to let in London advertise your properties with us today for only £19.00 for 30 days or £29.00 for 60 days.
Landlords if you have a flat or apartment to let in London why not advertise with us today, the site is not just for estate agents but is great for Landlords to who want to let their property.
To get started submit your property at the website today. It only takes a few minutes to list a flat for sale or apartment for let using our easy to use website.
If you have any questions about using the website visit the help or FAQs page at the site or contact us.
Category : Blog
