Josie Hawes - Guest Author

Hi, this might not be what you want to do but just in case you hadn't thought of it. When we sell to tenants we typically use an option agreement which runs for however many years so you could do 2 but we typically do 3-5, you then give them a slightly discounted rent which is fixed for the period of the option agreement but they pay a top up with you basically save on their behalf for them to use as the deposit when they come to purchase. You also fix the purchase at the beginning of the agreement. It has worked quite well for us but you need to remember that you still have all the same legal obligations as there will still be a tenancy agreement during the option period.... Read More

We had previously done what a lot of people are saying and had put everything outside. Nothing was damaged at all but the tenants later tried to sue us for over £2k saying we had damaged their tv etc when moving it so just be careful.... Read More

I know you are trying to prepare for any changes that are to come around the EPCs but unless you want to put central heating in anyway I wouldn't do too much now. My concern is that when/if new rules come in they will put exemptions on like if you have spent £X and it still isn't a C then you're exempt, but they could say if you have spent £X in the last 2 years or since the new rules have come in, so you could spend money now and then have to spend a load more if you still don't get it to a C. I also think, like many people, EPCs aren't fit for purpose and so they may get rid of them completely and have a different measure so you could be making changes for an EPC which could actually negatively impact a new measure.... Read More

I was under the impression she wouldn't need to apply for an exemption, I thought you only need to do that if the property is an F or G, is that wrong?... Read More

If I was you I would go back to the assessor or another assessor and ask what you can do to achieve a C but I would potentially hold off doing anything at the minute. When/if laws come in saying that properties need to be a C or above there may be expeditions, for example if you've spent £10k and still can't achieve a C then it may be exempt, the problem with this and doing work now is you don't know how far back they will take into consideration, they may only consider work in the last 6 months or the last 2 years to count towards to exemption so I would wait for the new legislation to come in, if it ever does.... Read More

We had this a little while ago and decided it was better to just get the tenants to give notice to terminate the tenancy and then set up a whole new tenancy in the sole name of the remaining tenant. We also added a guarantor at the same time which is always a good idea especially if you only have one tenant in the property.... Read More