Leasing and Letting Flashcards
What professional statement did the RICS release for global agency practices?
RICS Global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage, 2016
What RICS professional statement sets out mandatory standards for those involved in agency and real estate management work?
The RICS UK commercial real estate agency professional statement, 2016.
Can you tell me any professional statements relating to estate agency?
The RICS UK commercial estate agency professional statement, 2016.
What does the RICS UK Commercial Estate Agency, 2016 contain?
12 core principles which agents must observe
Can you tell me what the core principles are of the RICS UK commercial estate agency professional statement, 2016?
- Act in a honest, fair, transparent and professional manner.
- Carry out work with due skill, care and diligence (ensure staff are competent)
- Provide fair and clear terms of business and complaints handling procedure
- Avoid conflicts of interest - deal with them openly, fairly and promptly.
- Don’t discriminate unfairly in any dealings.
- All communication is fair, clear, timely and transparent.
- Advertising and marketing material is honest, decent and truthful.
- Client money is held separately from other monies in appropriately
designated accounts and is covered by adequate insurance. - PII
- Identify client and make obligations clear
- Realistic assessment (i.e. likely selling, buying or rental price etc)
- Meetings / inspections / viewings – Regard to clients wishes and security/safety
What is the key estate agency legislation?
Estate Agents Act 1979
When does the Estate Agents Act 1979 apply?
- Disposal or acquisition of an interest in land
- Freehold property
- Leasehold property with a capital value
-Land as well as buildings
What are the SIX key points which the Estate Agents Act 1979 promotes?
- Honesty and accuracy
- Clarity on TOE (s. 18)
- Open and transparent
- No discrimination
- Pass on all offers in writing
- Keep clients money separate
What must you do according to Section 18 of the Estate Agents Act 1979?
In advance (in TOE) set out:
- the instruction
- fees
- any additional costs (i.e. marketing disbursements)
What must you do according to Section 21 of the Estate Agents Act 1979?
- Disclose any personal interests
- Any personal interest should be declared on the terms of engagement
What must you do according to the Estate Agents Act 1979 when you receive offers?
- Must report all offers received to the client, promptly and in writing
- Not able to misrepresent interest/offers - you can only tell the truth regarding offers received
Who polices the Estate Agents Act 1979?
Trading Standards Office
What are the penalties for non-compliance with the Estate Agents Act 1979?
- Warning order not to do again (first offence)
- Prohibition order - prevents the agent from practicing
What are the different types of agency and selling rights that can be agreed?
Sole letting rights - Exclusive rights to one agent, fee due if let during agency appointment (including if client finds a buyer)
Sole agency - Exclusive rights to one agent, if client finds a buyer the agent won’t get a fee
Joint Agency - Two agents appointed to act together and the fee is split on a pre-agreed basis
Multiple Agency - More than one agent appointed - the agent who finds the buyer is paid the fee.
What is the ‘cooling off’ period?
Period of up to 14 days is allowed for clients to change their mind and not instruct an agent in accordance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015
What is money laundering?
Money Laundering means exchanging money or other assets that were obtained criminally for other money / assets that are clean.
also means money to fund terrorism
Who do money laundering regulations apply to?
- All regulated sectors
What are the requirements under the money laundering, terrorist financing and transfer of funds regulations 2017?
- Undertake CDD (identify customer - 2 x ID)
- Keep records of CDD (5 years)
- Maintain and undertake internal procedures to identify and prevent money laundering
- Report suspicious activity (SAR Report) - internally to nominated ML officer, externally to serious organised crime agency
- Training for employees
- Letting agents must register with HMRC if they are receiving rent over 10,000 euros per month.
What is the money laundering regulations?
Money laundering, Terrorist financing and transfer of funds regulations 2017
What would raise concern for money laundering?
- Suspicious behaviour i.e. sudden urgency or uneconomic decisions
What is the proceeds of crime act 2000?
Applies to everyone and facilitates money laundering regulations 2017
- makes it illegal to be involved with concealing or transferring criminal property.
What is the penalty as per the proceeds of crime act 2000?
14 years imprisonment and fine
(5 years and fine for ‘tipping off’)
What is the Terrorism act 2000?
Makes it an offence if you have reasonable cause to suspect to be involved with financial activity involving terrorism
What is terrorism?
the unlawful use of violence in the pursuit of political aims.
What is the consumer protection regulations 2008?
They protect consumers from unfair or misleading trading practices and ban misleading omissions and aggressive sales tactics.
What was the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991?
It was an Act which was repealed by an order in 2013.
Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 replaced the Property Misdescriptions Act
Removed in order to reduce duplicate legislation
Who do the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) 2008 relate to?
Business to Consumer activities
Who do the Business Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (BPRs) 2008 relate to?
Business to Business activities
Who is owed a duty of care under the CPRs / BPRs?
Potential buyers and vendors, potential clients, viewers and actual buyers
What agency practices do the CPRs / BPRs? relate to?
- Lettings
- Sales
- Online agency
What must agents do to ensure compliance with the CPRs / BPRs?
Must not mislead ‘average consumer’ - Declare everything known about a property - good and bad
Not to put undue pressure on potential leasee / buyer
Undertake full due diligence for all new instructions
Pass any information discovered during the agency process onto all interested parties
What is the penalty for breaching the CPRs / BPRs?
- Unlimited fine
- Prohibition order
- imprisonment (2 years)
- Compensation paid to the complainant of up to £25,000
What is a tenancy at will?
An agreement which permits the tenant to occupy a property and is terminable immediately by either party
Can you tell me the permitted development rights / restrictions on marketing boards (to-let boards)?
- 2 sqm (2.3 sq m if V board)
- Projection 1M from building
- Planning permission needed in conservation area / listed building
- No illumination
- Remove within 14 days of letting
What legislation sets out the restriction on to-let boards?
The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007
How would you promote / market an available building or space?
A marketing plan:
- Call client list
- targeted mailshot to clients
- Press and internet advertising
- To let board
- Estate agents window
What is an energy performance certificate?
An energy performance certificate tells you how energy efficient a building providing a rating from
A, very efficient,
to
G inefficient
Includes energy use and recommendations for improvement
What are the requirements for EPCs when letting a building?
- Must be instructed prior to marketing
- Letting details must show the rating (since Jan 2013)
What are the penalties if you don’t comply with EPC?
- Trading standards enforce fines if don’t comply (2.5% RV subject to a min of £500 and max £5,000)
When is an building exempt from requiring an EPC?
- unheated building
- listed building and the required improvements would unacceptably alter it
- a detached building with a total floor space under 50 square metres
- Building used for place of worship or other religious activities
- due to be demolished / redveleoped
Where can you find an EPC?
Stored on national register (epc register . com)
How long is an epc valid?
10 years (unless altered)
What are MEES?
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards which force green deal improvements on Landlords
(came into force 2018)
What is current MEES legislation?
from 1st April 2023 all buildings must have an EPC rating of E or above
What is future MEES legislation?
Compliance windows
2025 - 2027 (C by 27)
2028 - 2030 (B by 2030)
How do you check a Tenant’s covenant strength?
- Credit report (i.e. Dun and Bradstreet) - assess creditworthiness of business
- 3 years audited accounts - profit and loss, balance sheet
What would you recommend to your client if the tenant had a poor credit score / rating?
- Rent deposit
- Guarantor (name and address)
- If granting an incentive (payment from day one i.e. 1 year at half rent = 6m rent free)
- Authorised Guarantee Agreement (AGA on subletting)
- Regularly chase accounts to ensure payments have been made
What is the key RICS Professional Statement on leasing/letting practices?
RICS Code for leasing business premises, 2020
(reissued in September 2023 as a professional standard)
What is the aim of RICS Code for leasing business premises, 2020?
-Improve the quality and fairness of negotiations on lease terms
-Promote the issue of comprehensive heads of terms to make the legal drafting process more efficient
What are the FOUR sections of the RICS Code for leasing business premises, 2020?
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Mandatory requirements (Negotiations and heads of terms)
Part 3: Lease negotiation best practice
Part 4: Appendices
(Appendix A - Template heads of terms and checklist; Appendix B - Guide for landlords and tenants)
What does the RICS Code for leasing business premises, 2020 say with regards to the negotiations of heads of terms?
- Must be approached in a constructive and collaborative manner
-An unrepresented party must be advised about this code and must be recommended to obtain professional advice
- The agreed terms of a lease must be recorded in written heads of terms and must summarise the position on a number of aspects
-Negotiations should produce letting terms that achieve a fair balance between the parties commercial interests
What items must be addressed in the heads of terms according to the RICS Code for leasing business premises, 2020?
- Demise (Identity and extent of the premises)
- Length of term
- Inside or outside Landlord and Tenant Act 1954
- Break option
- Requirements for a guarantor and/or rent deposit
- Amount of rent, frequency of payment, any VAT?
- Business Rates
- Rent-free period or other incentive
- Rent reviews including frequency and basis of review
- Liability to pay service charge and/or insurance premiums
- Responsibility for Business Rates
- Alienation - Right to assign, sublet, charge or share the premises
- Repairing obligations
- Permitted use
- Rights to make alterations and any particular reinstatement obligations
- Any initial alterations or fit-out (if known)
Any conditions (subject to surveys, approvals or planning permission)
What is contained within Appendix A of RICS Code for leasing business premises, 2020?
Template head of terms and a checklist, which can be used should the landlord wish to use their own form of heads of terms document
What is contained within Appendix B of RICS Code for leasing business premises, 2020?
Guide for landlords and tenants
(supplemental to this professional standard and does not hold any mandatory
status)
What is Heads of Terms?
a summary of the agreement between the parties, used to instruct lawyers
to produce the actual lease.
(HOT and lease should comply with the
recommendations of the lease code)
What is a Guarantor?
A person or company who will guarantee to the landlord the obligations of the
tenant.