Property Management/Leasing + Letting/ Landlord + Tenant Flashcards
When were PRT’s introduced? Under what Act?
PRT’s were introduced on 1st December 2017 under the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016
Which act governs the gas safety in residential properties?
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
How long does a PRT last?
There is no end date
What are the grounds for eviction under a PRT that require 84 days notice?
- LL intends to sell the let property
- Property to be sold by lender
- Extensive refurbishment
- LL to use for non-residential purpose
- Property required for religious worker
- Tenant has stopped being (or has failed to become) an employee
- Tenant no longer needs supported accommodation
- Tenant has breached a term of the tenancy agreement
- Tenant is in rent arrears over three consecutive months
- Overcrowding statutory notice has been served on LL
LL intends to live in the let property
LL’s family member intends to live in the let property
LL has had their registration refused or revoked
LL’s HMO licence has been revoked
What are the grounds for eviction under a PRT that require 28 days notice?
Tenant has a relevant criminal conviction
Tenant has engaged in relevant antisocial behaviour
Tenant has associated in the let property with someone who has a criminal conviction or is antisocial
Tenant is no longer occupying the let property
Are there any exceptions to new residential tenancies that would not be given a PRT?
Agricultural tenants
Service occupancy/tied accommodation
Who can carry out the gas boiler service? What must be done with the certificate? How often must it be done?
A qualified gas engineer
Certificate must be provided to the tenant
Annually
Who can carry out an EPC inspection? How would you check the person was qualified or insured? What must you do with the certificate? Are there any exceptions where you wouldn’t need to renew an EPC?
An accredited domestic energy assessor (can be found on EPC register)
You can ask for their qualification certification and insurance documents - required to be an approved contractor anyway
Certificate must be provided to the tenant and displayed in property listing
Don’t need to renew an expired EPC if the tenant is remaining in situe and you aren’t making any changes
What would you look for in a property inspection?
External:
Gutters, roof tiles, chimney stacks, stone re-pointing, window frames, garden, gates, fences, door frame, access to property
Internal:
Dampness, check smoke/heat/Co2 alarms, windows/window frames, cracks in walls/ceilings, mould, hazards
Did you take any immediate safety precautions for the tenant’s when you saw the crack in the ceiling plaster?
I asked them not to sit at the table under the crack and instructed an approved contractor to inspect as soon as I left the property
What does an approved contractor have to provide to be on the approved list?
- Rural Division Supplier Approval Questionnaire
- Evidence of public liability insurance to £5m
- Certification / Registrations - relevant for the work they carry out
- Risk Assessment - dated within the last 12 months
- Construction Phase Plan - dated within the last 12 months
How often do contractors have to provide compliance documents?
Annually
Which Act prevents you from passing on a tenant’s details to a contractor without their permission?
Data Protection Act 2018
Which Act introduced grazing licenses? How long can they be? How much notice must you give a grazing tenant to remove?
Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003
364 days maximum
Contractual
What happens if a grazier stays on the land longer than 364 days?
Converts to an SLDT with a 5 year term (commencing from the start date of the grazing license)
Can you use a grazing license field for breeding and storage?
No
What must a license plan show?
A north arrow, a scale bar, the tenant’s date and signature
Which act introduced SLDT’s?
Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003
Do you need planning permission for an STLL property?
Only within Edinburgh City Council
What are the different compliances for an STLL and a PRT?
STLL does not require the EPC rating that PRT’s are due to in 2025, however we expect they will in due course.
STLL requires a floor plan (to scale), a soft furnishing list and a fire risk assessment.
What counts as upholstered furnishings?
Any furniture with a soft cover/protector such as chairs with cushions, mattresses, soft bed frames
What were the Heads of Terms for the lease with the forestry contractor?
Landlord
Tenant
Property information
Term
Rent
Rent Review
Late payment
Access
Use
Non-Domestic rates/taxes
Insurance
Planning Permission
Break clauses
Dispute resolution
Termination
What sort of conflict of interest was the conflict with the forestry contractor and the sitting tenant?
Confidential Information conflict
Was there no other tenants in the steading? Was there residential properties? Who lived in the farmhouse?
No
There was one farmhouse within the steading, occupied by the gamekeeper for the estate
What is a service occupancy?
If the employee is required to occupy the accommodation for the better performance of her/his duties, s/he will have a service occupancy
What is a service tenancy?
The term does not have a special legal meaning, but is a general one to describe an occupier who also happens to be employed by their landlord.
You mentioned the sitting tenant had breached their lease - how? Were they given a chance to rectify this?
They were using space out with their leased area to store vehicles and materials. They were given a written warning prior to the forestry contractor approaching the Estate and asked to tidy up and keep their belongings within their leased shed.
Who can undertake a PAT test?
No legal qualification required however your PAT tester must be competent to test your electrical equipment.
Did the forestry tenant require planning permission for the lease of the steading? Was there any consideration to access and noise?
Under updates to Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 I understand that there is no requirement for full planning permission. However I did include in the HoT’s that any planning permission required, including prior notice and prior approval, would be the sole responsibility of the tenant’s to obtain.
Is there a difference between managing an LLP to managing an estate owned by a sole beneficiary or limited company?
The Terms of Business must specify precisely who my client is.
When taking instruction, it is important that it is clear who has the responsibility for doing what. In this situation, I contact the managing director of one of the partner firms, who is the delegated contact for almost all decisions to be made.
What standard must a residential property meet before it can be rented?
The repairing standard
What measures are required by the repairing standard?
meets the tolerable standard
wind and watertight and reasonably fit for human habitation
structurally and externally in a reasonable state of repair and in good working order
fixed heating system that is plumbed in or hardwired
installations for the supply of water, gas, electricity are in a reasonable state of repair and in good working order
free of lead pipes from the boundary stopcock to the kitchen tap
fittings, fixtures or appliances supplied by the landlord are in good working order
furniture provided by the landlord can be used safely
satisfactory provision for and convenient access to spaces for food storage and food preparation
common parts can be safely accessed and used
common doors are secure and fitted with satisfactory emergency exit locks
What is determined by the tolerable standard?
be structurally stable
be substantially free from rising or penetrating damp
have satisfactory provision for natural and artificial lighting, for ventilation and for heating.
have satisfactory thermal insulation
have an adequate piped supply of wholesome water available within the house
have a sink provided with a satisfactory supply of both hot and cold water within the house
have a water closet, or waterless closet, available for the exclusive use of the occupants of the house
have a fixed bath or shower and a wash-hand basin with hot and cold water
have an effective system for the drainage and disposal of foul and surface water
have a supply of electricity, where electricity is supplied to the property, that is safe to use
have satisfactory facilities for the cooking of food within the house.
have satisfactory access to all external doors and outbuildings.
satisfactory equipment installed for detecting fire
satisfactory equipment installed for detecting carbon monoxide
What compliance checks must a property must pass before it can be let out?
MUST:
Gas Safety Certificate (where applicable)
Electrical Installation Condition Report
Legionella RA
Energy Performance Certificate
Portable Appliance Test (where applicable)
Working and interlinked smoke, heat and Co2 alarms
Good Practice:
Chimney sweep certificate (where applicable)
Oil Boiler test
Which Act introduced the Tolerable Standard? And which Act introduced the Repairing Standard?
Section 86 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988
Chapter 4 of the Repairing Standard (Housing) (Scotland) Act 2006
What are the requirements for PAT for landlords?
Any electrical device provided by the landlord must be undergo portable appliance testing annually.
What are some examples of tenants responsibilities in relation to health and safety?
To report any damage and repairs required to the landlord or their agent
To allow contractors to enter the property for any compliance works or general repairs
What are the latest fire detection regulations introduced and when did these come into force?
From 1st Feb 2022 all properties in Scotland (regardless of tenure) must have:
Smoke alarm on each floor
Heat alarm in kitchen
Carbon monoxide alarm in any room with solid fuel burning appliance and flue
Furniture provided must have fire safety labels
What new EPC regulations have been introduced to private rented properties and when will they come into force?
C by 2028 (initially 2025 but amended due to covid)
Landlords should still aim for 2025 if financially reasonable
What are the insurance responsibilities of a landlord and tenant in a residential property?
Unless the property is in a tenement (in which the landlord must have the appropriate building insurance) then there are no legal obligations
How much does a planning application cost?
Less than 2.5 ha = £600
In terms of planning permission, what is required for an agricultural shed?
Require pp if shed is larger than 1000 sqft or higher than 12m
Change of use
Substantially alter appearance
If there is new access or a car park
If it is to be used for horses
If there is a slurry structure within 400m of a building occupied by a 3rd party
If it is a development within 25 of a trunk road
What property terrier do you use and what information is held on this?
APR
Tenant name, address and contact information
Landlord name
Compliance checks
Rent review dates
Start date of tenancy
Rent demands
What is a suitable level of expenditure to spend on repairs and maintenance of properties, as a percentage of income?
15-20%
How does your firm deal with deposits for PRT’s? What are the 3 deposit schemes available?
Transferred into Safe Deposit Scotland within 30 days of receiving them.
Safe Deposit Scotland, mydeposits Scotland and Letting Protection Services Scotland
If a traditional 1991 act tenancy is converted to a Limited Duration Tenancy or MLDT, what is the minimum term?
25 years
What must a tenant do in order to have a right to buy under a 1991 Act tenancy?
Send a notice of interest to the keeper of the register of community interests in land and the landlord
Which act introduced Short Term Limited Duration tenancies
Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003
What are the minimum and maximum terms of a Limited Duration Tenancy?
Minimum term of either 10 years (if created after 22 March 2011)
or 15 years, if created before.
There is no maximum period for an LDT
What are the minimum and maximum terms of a Modern Limited Duration Tenancy?
Minimum term is 10 years, and there is no maximum term.
Which Act introduced Modern Limited Duration Tenancies?
Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016
Under which agricultural tenancies does the tenant have the right to buy?
1991 Act
What types of compensation might be payable to the tenant at termination of a 1991 act tenancy?
Waygo - tenants improvements and relinquishment of the tenancy
Under which tenancies is assignation permitted?
With landlord consent - 1991 Act, MDLT, LDT
Under which tenancy is subletting allowed
Only contractually / with landlords permission
What is the maximum duration of an SLDT?
5 years
What happens if a tenant remains in occupation for more than 5 years under an SLDT?
Automatically becomes an MLDT with a term of 10 years starting from the date the SLDT commenced
Is diversification permitted under an SLDT?
No
Which tenancy can the landlord contract out of repairing?
A repairing tenancy