Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
#1
'Made in Ulster' Member
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Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
Ok I was quite fortunate that the first people my rental agent found, wanted my house. Their 6 month tenancy ends at the end of July and today they emailed to say that they won't be able to renew and wanted to give me as much notice as possible. They've been a great wee couple and I really appreciate the amount of notice they've given me, over 2 months, to find a new tenant. Luckily my agent is very proactive and fingers crossed won't let me down.
My question is this, has anyone else found themselves in a similar predicament and has it been relatively plain sailing? Also did you ask someone from your family to attend viewings from potential tenants or did you just leave it up to the agent to find someone? This was not the nicest news to wake up to this morning, as you can imagine and me being the stressbucket that I am I know I'll panic about it til another tenant is found!
My question is this, has anyone else found themselves in a similar predicament and has it been relatively plain sailing? Also did you ask someone from your family to attend viewings from potential tenants or did you just leave it up to the agent to find someone? This was not the nicest news to wake up to this morning, as you can imagine and me being the stressbucket that I am I know I'll panic about it til another tenant is found!
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 906
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
I left it to an agent, they seem OK. Not all agents are the same.
#3
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
We have a property we currently let which is over 200 miles from where we live. Not the same as Oz granted but getting there and back whilst holding down a job is never easy.
The letting agencies have been good at getting tenants and that has never been a problem over the past seven years.
The issues we have faced are to do with cleaning and the fabric of the building. The family were a great help at one stage although funnily enough they got too emotionally attached! "You won't like the state they've left the house in!"
We are let only but now have contacts in the area who can do works. The letting agencies also have cleaning companies and they could advise on anything else.
Pity the fully managed service does take a fair amount of the profit.
Bezza
The letting agencies have been good at getting tenants and that has never been a problem over the past seven years.
The issues we have faced are to do with cleaning and the fabric of the building. The family were a great help at one stage although funnily enough they got too emotionally attached! "You won't like the state they've left the house in!"
We are let only but now have contacts in the area who can do works. The letting agencies also have cleaning companies and they could advise on anything else.
Pity the fully managed service does take a fair amount of the profit.
Bezza
#4
'Made in Ulster' Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
I pay for fully managed already, as I thought it foolish not to with my being so far away. Will see how it goes, fingers crossed!!! lol
We have a property we currently let which is over 200 miles from where we live. Not the same as Oz granted but getting there and back whilst holding down a job is never easy.
The letting agencies have been good at getting tenants and that has never been a problem over the past seven years.
The issues we have faced are to do with cleaning and the fabric of the building. The family were a great help at one stage although funnily enough they got too emotionally attached! "You won't like the state they've left the house in!"
We are let only but now have contacts in the area who can do works. The letting agencies also have cleaning companies and they could advise on anything else.
Pity the fully managed service does take a fair amount of the profit.
Bezza
The letting agencies have been good at getting tenants and that has never been a problem over the past seven years.
The issues we have faced are to do with cleaning and the fabric of the building. The family were a great help at one stage although funnily enough they got too emotionally attached! "You won't like the state they've left the house in!"
We are let only but now have contacts in the area who can do works. The letting agencies also have cleaning companies and they could advise on anything else.
Pity the fully managed service does take a fair amount of the profit.
Bezza
#5
'Made in Ulster' Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
#6
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Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Woodvale, WA
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Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
If you are fully managed your agent should get good tennants and do all of the necessary credit checks. They should also arrange all of the PAT/Gas tests that are required as well as inventory and the deposit scheme (if that is legal in Ireland as it isn't for my Scottish properties but is in England!)
Assuming your agent advertises properly and early and your current tennants allow viewings hopefully you should get someone new pretty quickly.
Assuming your agent advertises properly and early and your current tennants allow viewings hopefully you should get someone new pretty quickly.
#7
'Made in Ulster' Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
If you are fully managed your agent should get good tennants and do all of the necessary credit checks. They should also arrange all of the PAT/Gas tests that are required as well as inventory and the deposit scheme (if that is legal in Ireland as it isn't for my Scottish properties but is in England!)
Assuming your agent advertises properly and early and your current tennants allow viewings hopefully you should get someone new pretty quickly.
Assuming your agent advertises properly and early and your current tennants allow viewings hopefully you should get someone new pretty quickly.
#8
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
Jenny,
My tennants walked out in March - they had a fight, split and left me high & dry. The agent used her deposit to pay April's rent but we had to pay May's. Fortunately we have a new tennant moving in 1st June (my friend from back home phoned me about house, I gave her agents number - so in theory, he didn't find her but he did show a few people round).
My sister, who left us yesterday, has to go clean the house for me next week - in particular the kitchen. I don't think the carpets where cleaned either and since the deposit was used for rent we had nothing to fall back on.
Anyhow, I'm sure your agent will be fine, you've got plenty of time to find someone new altho it is a worry. I'm just glad we've got someone now
Lynn xx
My tennants walked out in March - they had a fight, split and left me high & dry. The agent used her deposit to pay April's rent but we had to pay May's. Fortunately we have a new tennant moving in 1st June (my friend from back home phoned me about house, I gave her agents number - so in theory, he didn't find her but he did show a few people round).
My sister, who left us yesterday, has to go clean the house for me next week - in particular the kitchen. I don't think the carpets where cleaned either and since the deposit was used for rent we had nothing to fall back on.
Anyhow, I'm sure your agent will be fine, you've got plenty of time to find someone new altho it is a worry. I'm just glad we've got someone now
Lynn xx
#9
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
It's good to know other people are going down the renting for at least now route whilst things settle. Do you ahve a timescale for the rental or are you goling to keep a UK base long term?
As mentioned we have family close by and contacts in the area but it is the emergency which will cause the headache when it undoubtedly arsies. It would hurt to be fully managed but it might have to be the way.
Bezza
p.s. How's the ginger this season?
As mentioned we have family close by and contacts in the area but it is the emergency which will cause the headache when it undoubtedly arsies. It would hurt to be fully managed but it might have to be the way.
Bezza
p.s. How's the ginger this season?
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 210
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
Lettings agents should ideally be ARLA registered (Association of Residential Lettings Agents), and you should knock them down from their original fee, especially if they're your sole agent when marketing, and they don't ever have any competition. 15% of the annual rental is generally their standard for Full Management, so you would want it to be around 13.5% after negotiating with them.
Also if you're receiving rental income from a UK located property whilst overseas you need to have contacted the Inland Revenue and acquired what's called an NRL number (Non-Resident Landlord). This will allow you to receive the full amount of your rent (after agents fees) without tax being deducted by either your agent or tenant. Just to forewarn you, its a lot harder to get it back from the Inland Revenue if you didn't sort this out first from the outset if its later down the line! The agent/tenant are legally obliged to withhold about 20% if an NRL number hasn't been allocated to the Landlord. Any good agent should know this all though......
Also if you're receiving rental income from a UK located property whilst overseas you need to have contacted the Inland Revenue and acquired what's called an NRL number (Non-Resident Landlord). This will allow you to receive the full amount of your rent (after agents fees) without tax being deducted by either your agent or tenant. Just to forewarn you, its a lot harder to get it back from the Inland Revenue if you didn't sort this out first from the outset if its later down the line! The agent/tenant are legally obliged to withhold about 20% if an NRL number hasn't been allocated to the Landlord. Any good agent should know this all though......
#11
'Made in Ulster' Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
O holy moly, how awful!!! Glad ur sorted now chick. It wouldnt be such a frightening concept if I was earning at the moment but I'm not, frustratingly!!! I might just insist on a years contract next time instead of 6 months....
Jenny,
My tennants walked out in March - they had a fight, split and left me high & dry. The agent used her deposit to pay April's rent but we had to pay May's. Fortunately we have a new tennant moving in 1st June (my friend from back home phoned me about house, I gave her agents number - so in theory, he didn't find her but he did show a few people round).
My sister, who left us yesterday, has to go clean the house for me next week - in particular the kitchen. I don't think the carpets where cleaned either and since the deposit was used for rent we had nothing to fall back on.
Anyhow, I'm sure your agent will be fine, you've got plenty of time to find someone new altho it is a worry. I'm just glad we've got someone now
Lynn xx
My tennants walked out in March - they had a fight, split and left me high & dry. The agent used her deposit to pay April's rent but we had to pay May's. Fortunately we have a new tennant moving in 1st June (my friend from back home phoned me about house, I gave her agents number - so in theory, he didn't find her but he did show a few people round).
My sister, who left us yesterday, has to go clean the house for me next week - in particular the kitchen. I don't think the carpets where cleaned either and since the deposit was used for rent we had nothing to fall back on.
Anyhow, I'm sure your agent will be fine, you've got plenty of time to find someone new altho it is a worry. I'm just glad we've got someone now
Lynn xx
#12
'Made in Ulster' Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
Done all of the paperwork, found out today though that despite the inland revenue sending me a letter a few weeks ago to say I needed to do a tax return as my circumstances seem to have changed, they appear not to have received all of the relevant paperwork which I sent in February, ARGHHHHHHHH
Lettings agents should ideally be ARLA registered (Association of Residential Lettings Agents), and you should knock them down from their original fee, especially if they're your sole agent when marketing, and they don't ever have any competition. 15% of the annual rental is generally their standard for Full Management, so you would want it to be around 13.5% after negotiating with them.
Also if you're receiving rental income from a UK located property whilst overseas you need to have contacted the Inland Revenue and acquired what's called an NRL number (Non-Resident Landlord). This will allow you to receive the full amount of your rent (after agents fees) without tax being deducted by either your agent or tenant. Just to forewarn you, its a lot harder to get it back from the Inland Revenue if you didn't sort this out first from the outset if its later down the line! The agent/tenant are legally obliged to withhold about 20% if an NRL number hasn't been allocated to the Landlord. Any good agent should know this all though......
Also if you're receiving rental income from a UK located property whilst overseas you need to have contacted the Inland Revenue and acquired what's called an NRL number (Non-Resident Landlord). This will allow you to receive the full amount of your rent (after agents fees) without tax being deducted by either your agent or tenant. Just to forewarn you, its a lot harder to get it back from the Inland Revenue if you didn't sort this out first from the outset if its later down the line! The agent/tenant are legally obliged to withhold about 20% if an NRL number hasn't been allocated to the Landlord. Any good agent should know this all though......
#13
'Made in Ulster' Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
It's good to know other people are going down the renting for at least now route whilst things settle. Do you ahve a timescale for the rental or are you goling to keep a UK base long term?
As mentioned we have family close by and contacts in the area but it is the emergency which will cause the headache when it undoubtedly arsies. It would hurt to be fully managed but it might have to be the way.
Bezza
p.s. How's the ginger this season?
As mentioned we have family close by and contacts in the area but it is the emergency which will cause the headache when it undoubtedly arsies. It would hurt to be fully managed but it might have to be the way.
Bezza
p.s. How's the ginger this season?
I've family a mile up the road so they won't let anything untoward happen. I think most of us still have our UK properties as it's not an ideal time to sell them....
#14
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
Have a nice weekend, must get together sometime soon
Lynn xx
#15
Re: Renting out house in UK - finding new tenants!?
Done all of the paperwork, found out today though that despite the inland revenue sending me a letter a few weeks ago to say I needed to do a tax return as my circumstances seem to have changed, they appear not to have received all of the relevant paperwork which I sent in February, ARGHHHHHHHH
I had an email from my tenant on Wednesday to say he was coming out in July and panic set in immediately! I manage it myself with the help of family and friends so it is a bit of a pain to find a new tenant. I didn't go down the estate agent managed route as they charge a fair whack in my area and they typically aren't that great. So they money I would have been paying them I just keep back to cover any up keep and void periods....I wracked up over a grand in 12 months so it's not too bad.
Also, I had the same problem as you with the Inland Revenue. Sent off a tax repayment claim last June and received their non-resident landlord form to complete which I sent back to them in August. Months went past without hearing anything, so I rang them and 'failed' their so-called security test, so I couldn't speak to them on the phone. Long story short....I complained about it all and got assigned a personal contact at the IR who sorted it all out promptly and I got my repayment. And also the interest on the repayment, along with a £25 apology.
If it starts dragging out I'd put in a complaint!