Landlord Portal

Landlord Guide

We fully manage properties throughout St Albans and surrounding areas for UK and overseas landlords. We have extensive experience and aim to make the process of letting a property as simple as possible.

What level of services can you offer?

This really depends on how much support you need. We offer three main service levels: Let Only, Rent Collect, Fully Managed and Managed Plus. Each involves a different degree of service and the fees we charge reflect this. Our service can be personalised to each individual to suit the client’s needs and requirements.

How do you reference potential tenants?

Each prospective tenant is vetted through an independent referencing agency: Tenant Serve. Each tenant intending to live in the property must therefore complete a Tenant Serve reference application form on-line. This application asks for personal information and is used to conduct a Credit Assessment.

What are the benefits of Fully Managed?

Choosing a fully managed service allows you to relax and know your property is in the best hands. Fully Managed creates a professional distance between you and the tenancy. Giving you the ability to avoid the burden of maintenance repairs, contractor appointments, Safety regulations, rent management and deposit negotiations.

What happens to the tenants deposit?

From 6th April 2007, all deposits paid to a landlord or agent for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement in England and Wales, must be protected by a Government authorised Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Cassidy and Tate are a member of the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS).

Do you carry out Right To Rent checks?

Yes. Under Section 22 of the Immigration Act 2014 a Landlord must not authorise an adult to occupy property as their only or main home under a residential tenancy agreement unless the adult as a British citizen, or European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss national, or has the Right to Rent in the UK. Cassidy and Tate reserve the right to obtain, check and copy one or more original documents that demonstrate the Right to Rent in the UK for all adult occupiers for that property in the presence of the holder.

Should I have an Inventory?

An inventory is a detailed list of the contents and condition of your property taken before the tenant moves in. It is important that if there is a dispute over damage at the end of the tenancy, you have proof of the original condition of the property and its contents.

Does a landlord need to pay tax on a rental income?

All landlords could be liable to pay tax on their rental income, whether they live in the UK or are based overseas. Further information can be found on the Inland Revenue’s website.

Who is responsible for Council Tax and Utilities?

The tenant will be responsible for opening accounts with the utility companies when they move into the property. These include gas, electricity, water, council tax, TV licensing, telephone and broadband etc. They will receive meter readings on their Inventory.

How do you ensure the up-keep of the property?

We carry out 6-monthly or quarterly property inspections. We notify the tenants that we will be visiting the property to check everything is in order and to note for any potential maintenance issues.

What are my legal obligations?

You must ensure a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC) is in place to ensure that all gas appliances, pipes and flues are in safe working order. It must be carried out by a qualified Gas Safe Register engineer. This needs to be checked every 12 months.
You are required to ensure that any electrical devices within the property are safe for use. We recommend an Installation Survey or Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) so you can be sure you are compliant.  As of 1^st June 2020 all rental properties must have an EICR (Electrical Inspection Condition Report) in place. These are valid for 5 years or on change of property ownership.

You must fit smoke alarms to every level of the property and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors must be fitted in any room which burns, or is capable of burning, solid fuel. This would include log and coal burning stoves and open fires, even if they are not normally in use, but does not include gas and oil boilers. If an open fireplace is purely decorative and not usable then it is not covered by the regulations.

What is TPO?

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) is an independent body to which landlords can refer any complaint should the agent fail to address it to their satisfaction. We are members of the TPO.