Property Management (Level 3) Flashcards
What are the 12 principles of the Real Estate Management 2016 Professional Statement?
- Conduct in an honest, fair, transparent and professional manner.
- Carry out work with due skill, care and diligence.
- Ensure that clients are provided with terms of engagement which are fair and clear.
- Do the utmost to avoid conflicts of interest.
- Not discriminate unfairly in any dealings.
- Ensure that all communications are fair, clear, timely and transparent.
- Ensure that all advertising and marketing material is honest, decent and truthful.
- Ensure that all client money is held separately from other monies in appropriately designated accounts and is covered by adequate insurance.
- Have adequate and appropriate PII.
- Ensure that it is made clear to all parties with whom you are dealing the scope of your obligations to each party.
- Give a realistic assessment of the likely selling, buying or rental price, associated cost of occupancy, using best professional judgment.
- Ensure that all meetings, inspections and viewings are carried out in accordance with the client’s lawful and reasonable wishes, having due regard for the security and personal safety of all parties.
What does the Commercial Property Management Guidance Note (2011) do?
- Sets out best practice of how a property manager can be efficient, effective and accountable to their client and comply with statute law.
- Duty of care to the landlord (client).
- Key areas: Rent collection, service charge, managing budgets, H&S, procurement of third party suppliers.
- Relevant Statute and model terms of engagement.
Landlord and Tenant Act 1988
- To ensure that a statutory duty exists on the landlord to deal with consents diligently and not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
- Failure to do so can result in claim for damages.
Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995
- Relates to Assignment of Leases
- Abolished Privity of Contract for new leases.
- More scope for setting conditions regarding approval of an assignee.
- Authorised Guarantee Agreements (AGA) introduced.
- A Section 17 must be served on a guarantor within 6 months of the tenant defaulting to require the former tenant (on AGA) to pay the arears.
- One AGA in place at any time.
- Code for Leasing Business Premises 2020 states AGAs commonplace for landlords, tenant should seek not to enter an AGA.
What does the Code for Leasing Business Premises 2020 (Professional Statement) say regarding alienation?
- Leases should allow assignment of whole (landlord consent, not to be unreasonably withheld).
- Leases should allow subletting of whole (may allow part if appropriate without Security). At rents not less than market rent. Subleases should be required to be on terms consistent with the tenants own lease.
Key factors regarding alterations
- Read the Lease
- Usually approved in writing prior to alterations.
- May be subject to reinstatement at the end of the lease.
- Licence for Alterations
What is a licence for Alterations?
- Two functions: to protect the parties at rent review and dilapidations at the end of the lease.
- Most licences require the tenant to reinstate the works at the end of the lease.
What does the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 say about alterations?
- Section 19 imposes a proviso that Landlord consent cannot be unreasonably withheld.
- If S.19 followed, the Landlord may be obliged to pay compensation for alterations that may constitute improvements.
Terminal/Final Dilapidations procedure in CPM
- Read the Lease
- Check repairing responsibility for both parties
- Schedule of Condition, Licence for Alteration?
- Instruct Building Surveyor (beyond my competence)
What are the three types of schedule of dilapidations?
- Interim - 7 year + leases only with 3 or more years of the term unexpired (Leasehold Property (Repairs) Act 1938)
- Terminal - issued during the last three years to 18 months of the lease (RTL).
- Final - issued after expiry of the lease.
(Dilapidations in England and Wales 7th edition, September 2016)
First steps in dealing with breaches of repairing obligation?
- Meet with the tenant. Highlight issues and try to resolve.
- Serve a S.146 Notice. Law of Property Act 1925. Giving 6 months to remedy the breach.
How are dilapidations usually settled before expiry?
Terminal dilaps served in draft informally first then:
1. The Tenant can do the agreed works.
2. Tenant can pay a sum to the landlord to undertake the works (Breach + Loss + Evidence = Recovery)
What is a dilapidations claim limited to?
- Claim is limited to either the cost of the works or the diminution in value of the reversionary interest (S.18 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927).
- If the landlord proposes to demolish or substantially refurbish, the value of the reversion could be nil.
Reasons why a dilapidations settlement is not agreed?
- When the lease is not on full repairing terms
- Reinstatement not required by the Landlord
- If a schedule of condition limits the repairing liability
- If the building is to be demolished or substantially refurbished after the lease expiry (if the value of the reversion is nil)
- Use of the diminution in value cap
- Tenant has gone into administration
- Agreed between landlord and tenant to roll over the claim until end of next lease granted.
What actions are required for Empty Buildings?
- Notify Insurer
- EPC for re-letting
- Clear combustible material
- Regular inspections (insurance purposes)
- H&S + FRA for Building
- Empty rates, rates relief
- Drain down the water
- Maintain asbestos register
- Planned maintenance programme.
What are the principles of rent collection?
- Accuracy and Timing
- (normally quarter days)
- Check lease for timing and interest on arears
- Implement a check system to avoid circumstances where rent should not be collected.
What is the difference between a direct debit and a standing order?
- A standing order is a regular payment that you can set up (can amend or cancel the standing order as and when you like)
- A Direct Debit can only be set up by the organisation to which you’re making the payment.
What would you do if a Tenant is in Arrears?
- Read the Lease
- Establish procedure from lease
- Check for Rent Deposit Deed
- Privity of contract or AGA check (Prior to Jan 1996)
- Consider if you want possession of the property (MR > PR)
- Re-letting chances
- Seek legal advice on options
- If in lease, charge interest on all late payments
- Consider a payment plan.