pabby

I have a US Citizen friend in Florida that has a couple of people that are very interested in renting her home for one year. The renters are coming to US for work, their VISA(s) have been acquired.

Has anybody ever rented their property in the US to a UK Citizen? Any advice is appreciated - relating to this, not just any advice in general.

Ray

25K houses are rented to brits every week in Florida

Rete

And Canadian Snowbirds.

If they wear socks with their sandals, they will be good tenants.

Kali-forniarrr

The taps will have to be changed over for left hand drive.

Norri

and the light switches turned the right way up

Seriously though it might be good to have the company take the lease if possible, then if the Brits get homesick and do a runner you have someone to be responsible, hopefully!

pabby

Thanks, I have what I was looking for.

Deedee13

i suppose it would be the same as renting it to anyone else. Just because they are brits dont mean jack. Enough people here move state to state and u have the same risks with them as u do with anyone else. They might do a runner so might the person coming from alaska.

If they have taken all this time to get the visa and then come over i doubt they are going to trash the place .

robin1234

Maybe take out the fridge and put in a smaller one? And put up a little hand-written sign in the bathroom saying "We care about the environment. Please use as little water as possible." (or words to that effect.) That way they'll feel right at home.

Deedee13

dont foget the poll tax!

Tarkak9

label everything in the house with post-its... for example "loo" "cooker" etc

Remove anything which may have caster wheels on it - don't bother if you happen to rent to Scousers - they'll do it for you.

Locate the the power outlet which is controlled by the wall switch... it really confuses us; evidently.

Remove the fridge, they're only expecting a cooker and dishwasher.. besides, we like warm beer so one won't want to use a refrigerator. Make sure you provide an electric kettle - you won't hear the end of it if you don't.

Lead Based Paint disclosure (if applicable - my personal favorite!)

Bob

what or who would bother get a work visa for one year only?

anyway, rent the place like you would rent any other place to anyone...get a deposit, it's what it's there for.

penguinsix

1) Require 'renters insurance' in the lease. Make sure they get it. It costs them not much but can really help you.

2) Require a deposit against damages that you will return to them after final inspection of the house. Consider photographs of the house on the day they move in to prevent any 'it was like that when we got it' when they leave.

3) Discuss with them the possibility of the lease ending early. Many expats are called back to the home office with little notice and this leaves landlords with a lease to a person that they can really enforce (as they live overseas). You might want to put some 'break out clause' in the lease that says if they leave they forfeit the deposit, are required to pay 1 extra month rent (to cover your 'down time reletting') and are required to make a cash payment for damages the day they turn in the key. Some clause like this.

hobbes79

One thing to consider is that the renter won't be able to get a meaningful credit history on the Brits. I had to show my letter of employment.