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    DO YOU HAVE AN ELECTRICAL CERTIFICATE?

    I was recently chatting to a landlord who self-managed his properties and was having a problem with one of his tenants who had fallen into rent arrears. Despite trying all they could to help the tenant, it was clear the arrears were not going to be made up and they would continue to increase.

    The landlord was picking my brain on what paperwork was required, in the event he had to go down the court route.

    It was apparent to me that he was a good landlord and had always used an agent (not Move On) to set up a new tenant for each property and then let the tenancies rollover.

    After going through the paperwork, it was clear he had not had any electrical certificates conducted on his properties and he was completely oblivious to the fact that he needed one. He was under the impression that they would only be required for new tenants moving in after April 2021 and as none of his tenants had moved out, he hadn’t instructed his electrician to do them.

    Part of the court paperwork is to include all legislative paperwork. Also in the court waiting room is a representative from Shelter, who will go through the tenant’s paperwork as well.

    I advised him to get the electrical certificates completed ASAP.

    For the avoidance of doubt:

    SINCE APRIL 2021 – ALL RENTAL PROPERTIES MUST HAVE A VALID FIVE-YEAR EICR CERTIFICATE!

    Feeling deflated? Exhausted with all the changes? Then let us take care of your property needs. We promise to hold your hand throughout this process, giving you less stress and more freedom!

    If you fancy an informal chat any time, then email me sharon@moveon.biz with your phone number.

    Sharon

    Blog Articles

    Abolishing Section 21!

    ABOLISHING SECTION 21!

    The Government’s levelling up Rental Reform white paper bill has included this in detail.

    Section 21, often referred to as the ‘No Fault Eviction’, has been a security blanket for landlords. If you as a landlord wanted your property back, then a Section 21 will guarantee you your property back.

    By abolishing the Section 21, this will no longer be the case. The tenant will be able to give 2 months’ notice at any time and the landlord must give a reason as to why they want the property back and that reason must be one of the grounds of a new updated Section 8 notice.

    If I look at the occasions we have issued a section 21 over the last 30 odd years (and there really has not been that many), 95% of the time, it was because the tenants were in rent arrears, the landlord wanted to sell his property or the landlord wanted to move back in. The new Section 8 notice will have additional grounds to cover these reasons.

    There are additional caveats to these. If you decide you want to sell the property and give the tenants notice, you must prove it was on a portal for sale and if your situation changes and you decide to put the property back up to rent, then there must be a gap of 3 months between the tenants.

    If you are seeking possession because the tenant is in the minimum 2 months of arrears and they decide to pay a nominal amount that takes them under the 2-month threshold the day before court, then you will not regain the property (as it is now), however, if the tenant does this 3 times in 3 years, the court will give the property back.

    Feeling deflated? Exhausted with all the changes? Then let us take care of your property needs. We promise to hold your hands throughout this process, giving you less stress and more free!

    If yancy an informal chat any time, then email me sharon@moveon.biz with your phone number.

    Sharon

    Blog Articles

    NEW RENTAL LEGISLATIONS – HERE WE GO AGAIN!

    Goodness me, blink and you could be forgiven for missing more changes within the rental legislations.

    On the 16th May 2022 with immediate effect, properties with two or more domestic dwellings must have a fire risk assessment by a ‘Responsible Person’, whether they have a communal area or not. This could simply be a house that has been converted into two flats. The risk assessment must include the buildings structure such as floors and ceilings and internal walls as well as external fixings such as cladding or balconies.

    From 1st October 2022, carbon monoxide alarms will be required in rooms with combustion appliances include gas and oil appliances (except gas cookers). The additional amendment also requires the landlord to repair or replace the alarms once the landlord has been informed of a fault. This will apply to all new and existing tenancies.

    On the 15th June 2022, the Government released the Renters’ Reform Bill White Paper, which has a shopping list of suggested changes in the 86 pages! Abolishing Section 21, no initial fixed term tenancy, no tenancy renewals, banning of children, pets and people on benefits to be outlawed, a new Landlord Ombudsman and loads more. Before rushing to us to sell your property, please note a ‘Bill’ is a proposal to change an existing law and debated in Parliament prior to Royal Ascent. Due to the complexities of the proposals, we will be probably looking at least 12 months for this to go through.

    Feeling deflated? Exhausted with all the changes? Then let us take care of your property needs.

    If you wish to know more on the new fire risk assessments that are now in force, please email sharon@moveon.biz for a more detailed report.

    Sharon

    Blog Articles

    Rents Have Risen!

     

    The past 18-24 months have seen a massive increase in rental prices throughout the Poole and Bournemouth area.

    We are valuing rental stock, new and existing, with huge increases and properties are being successfully let at the new prices.

    Prior to the last couple of years, rents had remained static, but when Covid came and we saw an increase of out-of-towners looking for properties with gardens, this caused a huge demand and saw the rental prices going up.

    We are also seeing a lack of stock coming to the market, which again is increasing the rental prices.

    As a tenant, this is not good news, as we now have an increase in energy prices, fuel prices and cost of living being added on.

    Contrary to popular belief, many landlords are not making vast amounts of money on their rental properties and expect their investment to help them in their retirement years. Those landlords who are already retired, will also be impacted on the cost of living going up.

    It is always a hard decision for landlords to increase rentals when they have had long-standing tenants, this is where Move On can help, by being the negotiator between all parties, in an amicable way.

    At Move On, we make sure all our landlords can sleep at night, because this is what we do every day. We make sure we are always up to date with latest legislations, and we are often ahead of the deadline.

    If you would like a free up to date rental appraisal or fresh eyes over your paperwork to ensure you are compliant, then please contact me 01202 711169 or email sharon@moveon.biz

     

    Sharon

    Tenant FAQs

    Frequently Asked Questions for Tenants

    Frequently Asked Questions for Tenants

    Renting a property as a tenant, whether for the first time or not, can be confusing. The laws and legislations for tenants, landlords and agents are constantly changing, so it’s important to know your rights and responsibilities with each tenancy. In this section of frequently asked questions for tenants we hope to answer some of the most common questions we receive from applicants and tenants.

    Got a question we didn’t cover? Let us know via email.

    Applying for a Property

    • Income confirmed at 2.5x yearly rental amount (for example, if the asking rent on a property was £750PCM, tenants would have to confirm yearly income of £22,500 per annum (750.00 x 12 x 2.5) (OR can provide a homeowner guarantor with income 3x yearly rental amount)
    • No adverse credit (CCJs, IVAs, etc. (OR if minor adverse credit, can provide a homeowner guarantor with income 3x yearly rental amount)
    • Right to rent in the UK (find the UK Gov Right to Rent Guide here for more information)
    If you’re self-employed, our referencing company will be looking at your last year’s tax return information to prove your income, and this will need to be 2.5x the yearly rent as stated above. If you’ve been self-employed for less than a year, or fail to provide this information, you will most likely be asked to provide a homeowner guarantor for your application to be able to pass
    No matter what your credit situation, it’s vital that you disclose any adverse credit BEFORE you apply for a rental property. You will usually be asked to disclose this when booking your viewing. Your credit profile WILL be checked when going through referencing. If you are untruthful and are found to have adverse credit that you did not disclose, this is usually an automatic 'Unacceptable' referencing result. Depending on the severity of your adverse credit (e.g. if you have an IVA or if you have satisfied any CCJS), you may be able to pass through referencing with or without a guarantor However, again it is vital you disclose this to us before continuing with an application so we can find the best option for you.
    Paying rent upfront for the duration of a tenancy is certainly an option if there is another reason why you are not able to pay monthly This would have to be agreed between yourself, us as the agent, and the landlord before it is accepted For example, if your monthly rent was £750PCM and you wanted to pay upfront for a tenancy of 12 months, this would be a total of £9000 upfront. This does NOT include your deposit. Despite paying upfront, you will still be asked to go through a referencing process, which will include previous landlord references, income references and a credit/background check.
    Our referencing process is nothing to be worried about! It's used to ensure that applicants are able to afford the rent on a property and that they are a suitable tenant. Our referencing checks include use of banking data (which you can opt in or out of), credit and background checks, previous landlord references and income checks (employment status & salary).
    A guarantor is someone who agrees to be named on a tenancy agreement and is liable for the rent should a tenant be unable to pay.
    A guarantor would need to go through much of the same process as a tenant when going through an application. Guarantors would need to provide up-to-date photo I.D and proof of Right to Rent in the UK They would also need to complete a referencing process, proving their credit history, background check, previous landlord reference and employment/income. Guarantors need to prove their identity by bringing the original copy of their photo I.D into the office before keys can be handed over to a tenant Guarantors also need to read and sign the tenancy agreement before keys can be handed over
    Each property that we rent, and each landlord, is different. This means that whether or not pets may be accepted is dependent on many things. It can depend on the lease the landlord has on the property, the size of the property, the type and breed of the pets in question, etc. When you find a property you're interested in, feel free to ask on your enquiry whether pets may be accepted. Some landlords may agree to have pets in the property but for a slightly higher rental amount, so it is always worth an ask!
    For all our rental properties, the deposit is calculated as 5 x the weekly rental amount. For example, if the rental amount was £750PCM, this would be calculated as 750.00 x 12 (yearly rent) divided by 52 (weekly rent) x 5 = deposit of £865.00
    When you rent a property, your landlord and agent puts trust in you to keep the property in a good condition. A deposit is held to ensure that any damages (over and above fair wear and tear) can be corrected at the end of the tenancy.
    At Move On, we can offer a Nil Deposit Scheme that allows tenants to pay a lower 'check-in fee' rather than a full deposit to lower the costs of moving. For more information on this, please get in touch.
    As a general rule, we like to allow at least two weeks between the signing of holding deposit documents (the first stage of an application) and a move in if a property is ready at that stage. This allows us and you plenty of time to complete the application and get everything ready. HOWEVER, this is dependent on the property itself and when it has been advertised as 'Available From' It may be the case that the property is not available until a specific future date, but your move in date will be agreed between yourself and our negotiators on your application.

    Living in the Property

    Unless stated in the advert or at the initial stages of an application, bills are not included in the rental of a property However, usually bills are included in HMO rooms! The arrangement and payment of bills such as council tax, water, electric, gas and broadband are your responsibility as a tenant (unless otherwise stated in your rental agreement). You will be responsible for ensuring your bills are paid fully and on time. At Move On, we partner with a company called Just Move In. Just Move In provide free services for tenants and movers in that they will alert utilities providers (such as the council, etc.) that a new occupier has moved into the property, so you won't need to worry about this. Just Move In also offer a complimentary Home Setup Service which includes a setup call with yourself and they will assist you (for free!) to help set up your tariffs and bills. For more information on Just Move In and how it works, click here or email us on enquiries@moveon.biz with your questions.
    This depends on the type of repair. If damage was made by yourself, you will most likely be responsible for fixing the issue (but make sure you tell your letting agent and/or landlord if anything happens in the first instance before trying to repair anything yourself!) In general, the landlord is responsible for maintaining the property in a good state of repair. They will either take care of this directly, or do so via an agent like Move On. When you sign your tenancy agreement, make sure you know who to go to when there’s an issue throughout your tenancy.
    Please do not make any decorative or other changes to a property you are renting without express written permission from the landlord. You are welcome to ask this question of your landlord at any time, either to them directly, or through the managing agent such as Move On. If you do receive permission to make changes to a property, we recommend keeping a dated record of this (i.e. an email) in case there is a dispute at the end of the tenancy regarding the change made.
    If you are in a fixed term tenancy, you are liable for the rent on the property until the fixed term is over. If you are on a periodic (rolling) contract, your tenancy agreement will detail the steps you need to take and notice you need to give if you'd like to vacate the property.
    Blog Articles

    What can happen if your paperwork is not up…

     

    The law is unbending! Naivety is not an excuse! Over 300 legislations in the last 3 years – do you know them?

    The courts have been filled in recent years with landlords being heavily fined and, in some cases, having to pay back the last 12 months’ worth of rent received.

    None of us would like to find ourselves in this position, but more and more landlords are finding this simply because they haven’t kept up to date with the law.

    A landlord recently failed to evict a tenant through non-payment of rent, due to not having a valid Gas Safety Certificate and Electrical Certificate.

    Another landlord had to pay back 3 times the deposit plus the deposit of £1000.00, totalling £4,000 to the tenant as they had failed to register the deposit. Local councils have the ability to fine landlords up to £30,000 for non-compliant properties including properties in disrepair. Two or more households is a HMO! Three unrelated friends or 2 couples is a HMO! Do you have the correct license?

    Another landlord had not noted the visa on his tenant had expired and they did not have the right to rent in the UK. The landlord narrowly missed going to jail.

    At Move On, we make sure all our landlords can sleep at night, because this is what we do every day. We make sure we are always up to date with latest legislations, and we are often ahead of the deadline.

    If you would like a free rental appraisal and fresh eyes over your paperwork, then please contact me 01202 711169 or email sharon@moveon.biz

    Sharon

    Information For Tenants

    Information for Tenants

    Information for Tenants

    At Move On, we aim to do our best to use our knowledge and experience to make sure everyone involved in the lettings process is always in the loop, and this includes our tenants. It’s important that every tenant knows what is going on with the property they are renting or applying for, and that they have all the right information from the get-go.

    Being a tenant in today’s world can be a stressful experience, but our hope is that both the tenant’s and landlord’s experiences can be made as simple and stress-free as possible.

    Looking to rent a property through Move On? Here’s how the process goes…

    Applying for a Rental Property

    2022
    Sign Up To Our Mailing List
    Available Properties to Rent

    Scroll to the bottom of this page to find our Sign Up form and input your details to be notified whenever a new property becomes available to view.

    2022
    Book Your Viewing

    Once you’ve seen a property you’re interested in, give us a call to book in your viewing. Alternatively, you can send us a message on Facebook, Instagram, or via email at enquiries@moveon.biz.

    2022
    Information For Booking

    Upon booking, you will be asked the following, so it’s best to have this info to hand: Your contact details Who is moving with you (adults, children & pets) When are you looking to move by? Tenant’s current occupation & salary? Any adverse credit (CCJS, IVAS, etc.)?

    2022
    Register Your Interest
    Viewing Properties to Rent

    If you’re interested in renting the property after your viewing, register your interest by telling us you’d like to apply. You can do this via phone, email, or face-to-face at the end of your viewing!

    2022
    Your Offer’s Agreed!
    Applying for Rental Properties

    Once your offer of interest has been accepted by the landlord, we will send you some documents online via Signable to fill out and confirm the details of the let.

    2022
    I.D Checks and Holding Deposit

    When we’ve received the forms back signed from all tenants, we will ask for proof of photo I.D (this is required for Right to Rent checks) and payment of a holding deposit (1x weeks’ worth of rent)

    2022
    Referencing Checks
    Employer Referencing for Rental Property

    Once we have received payment of the holding deposit and I.D from all tenants, you’ll be submitted for referencing through our partners at Homelet. You will receive an email inviting you to fill out an online referencing form. This will use employer references, credit checks and previous landlord references to make a final decision.

    2022
    Referencing Passed
    Rental Application Passed

    Once references are acceptable and passed for each tenant, we will begin creating the move in documents ready for your move in date. They will be sent via Signable prior to your picking up the keys.

    2022
    Prior to Picking Up Keys

    Before moving in and picking up keys, you will need to verify your I.D in person; pay your first month’s rent and deposit (5 weeks’ rent equiv.) and have signed your move in documents.

    2022
    Welcome to Your New Home!
    Picking Up Keys for Rental Properties

    Still not sure about whether you might be the right fit for one of our properties, or not sure whether you should apply? Read our FAQs for Tenants.

    If you’ve still got questions about the process or your application, please give us a call on 01202 711169.

    Blog Articles

    MINIMUM EPC RATING TO CHANGE IN 2025?

    The Government is in current consultation to bring forward the change in EPC ratings from E to min ‘C’ from 2028 to 2025.

    With climate change being a prominent factor in the news at the moment, the government is keen to do their bit.

    From 2025 all new builds will be banned from putting in gas boilers to drive us away from gas as a carbon-based fuel. They are looking to replace these boilers with a heat source air pump.

    The government introduced a ‘Green Homes Grant’ in September 2020, where they would pay two thirds of an invoice and the public paid one third with a cap of £5000. However, this was closed on 31st March 2021 due to various hitches and lack of skilled workforce. There is talk of them looking at another type of grant– let’s hope so!

    Landlords will not be able to issue new tenancies unless their property is rated ‘C’, just like we did with the current system when they banned F and G ratings from the rental sector in April 2018.

    The older the property, the more likely you are to be a D or E. I would highly recommend you looking at your current EPC and seeing if you have a potential rating of ‘C’ and what the recommendations are on how to achieve this.

    If they insist on landlords upgrading properties to the pump system, this could have a negative impact on the rental sector as it just wouldn’t be affordable for many landlords and the return on investment could take several years to recoup! As they say, ‘watch this space’.

     

    Have a good week!

    Sharon Canning

     

    If you would like a friendly, no obligation chat regarding buying, selling, renting or investing in property, then please email sharon@moveon.biz   or telephone 01202 711169.

    Blog Articles

    Possession Notices Back to Pre-COVID Length

    When COVID hit us back in March 2020, none of us had any idea of the impact this would have on our lives and how every sector would be affected – good or bad (there are always winners and losers after all).

    As it became apparent that COVID was going to be around for a while and many people furloughed, the Government deemed it necessary to bring in additional measures to stop any tenants being evicted from their homes, especially as there was nowhere to go: hotels, etc. were all closed.

    The extension of the possession notices from 2 months to 6 months caused huge ramifications to landlords who already had tenants in rent arrears.

    Some landlords have been incredibly generous to their tenants where COVID had an impact, and either came up with a payment plan or, in some cases, gifted a month’s rent.

    There will always be people who like to use the system, thankfully this is not the majority of tenants.

    The government then confirmed that, from the 1st of October, possession notices would revert to as they were in to pre-COVID times, meaning landlords can now give their tenants 2 months’ notice to vacate the property through a Section 21 notice for the time being. Section 8 notices have also reverted to pre-COVID rules.

    If you need help or advice on your tenancy management then please do not hesitate to contact us. We are not just good; we are amazingly good!

     

    Have a good month!

    Sharon Canning

     

    If you would like a friendly, no obligation chat regarding buying, selling, renting or investing in property, then please email sharon@moveon.biz   or telephone 01202 711169.

    Blog Articles

    Rental Market Update: Bournemouth and Poole

    You couldn’t miss headlines throughout 2021 of the increase in sales property prices. However, news on lettings and rental prices has not been as common.

    The last three or four years have seen the rental market pretty static, but this has dramatically changed over the last 12-18 months. Tenants are staying longer in their properties, which in turn means there are less properties coming to market. This has created a shortage and pushed prices up.

    Gardens have been very much sought after and this has seen an uplift of hundreds of pounds in monthly rentals, which is adding thousands to yearly totals for landlords.

    So how does a landlord approach this with their existing tenant, especially if they have been long-term and good tenants? This is where a letting agent should shine and act as negotiator between the two parties. Most tenants expect a yearly increase in their rent, but when a significant increase, this can cause distress to the tenant.

    We have successfully negotiated larger-than-normal rent increases with our tenants, giving our landlords that extra revenue.

    It is important for landlords to keep up repairs and maintenance of their properties as this also has an impact on not just the amount of rent that can be achieved, but also the quality of the tenant.

    Rental properties are a business for landlords and not a charity. You can still be a great landlord and go the extra mile but, at the end of the day, the money left in your hand impacts your living standards. Tenants will always look at the market to see if there are properties better and cheaper for them, this is where we need to make sure it is a win-win for both sides.

    If you would like us to help negotiate a rent increase with your tenants then please phone for an informal chat.

     

    Have a good month!

    Sharon Canning

    For more information or help with your rental property, email sharon@moveon.biz   or telephone 01202 711169 today.

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