Landlords’ information packLeasing scheme for landlords

Free management

Guaranteed rent

2 Leasing scheme for landlords

3Leasing scheme for landlords

Contents

Who we are 4.

Benefits of the leasing scheme 5.

Lettable standards 6.

Specification 7.

Furniture 8.

Payments 9.

Taxation 10.

Contact us 11.

4 Leasing scheme for landlords

Who we are

A2Dominion Group is a registered housing association with a high reputation for developing quality affordable homes and offering an excellent management service to residents.

We currently provide over 30,000 affordable properties across London and southern England. We offer a wide range of housing options, including homes for rent, sale and shared ownership, as well as temporary, student, sheltered, supported and key worker accommodation.

We have a large development programme which will provide several thousand more affordable homes over the coming years, and we also work hard to build strong and lasting communities.

We lease properties from private landlords in several London boroughs. We currently manage approximately 1,000 of these homes, and we work with the local authorities to house people in need.

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Benefits of the leasing scheme

We provide a management service with attractive terms for both professional landlords and private buy-to-let landlords.

Long term contractsWe will usually lease the property from you for a period of three years, but we can offer longer leases in some circumstances. The lease starts on the day we first let the property.

Financial securityOnce our first tenant moves into the property, we guarantee to pay you the rent each month, regardless of whether the property is occupied.

Full management service - with no chargeWe will find tenants for your property and carry out a full management service. A Housing Officer will carry out regular inspections of each property to ensure the home is being looked after.

We will identify repairs and notify you if any are your responsibility under the terms of the lease.

Full vacant possession at lease endWe guarantee to return the property to you with full vacant possession at the end of the lease. We will take all necessary court action and give you relevant notice when handing the property back.

It may be possible to offer you the opportunity to renew the lease for a further three-year period, extending the period of financial security for you.

Property condition at lease endAt the end of the lease you should expect to have to redecorate the property and replace the white goods, along with the carpets, curtains and any furniture you have provided.

We recommend that you put aside approximately 10% of your rental income to cover these costs at the end of the lease period.

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Lettable standards

We require good quality, self-contained accommodation that meets all the following criteria:

• Proper ventilation

• Kitchen and bathroom in good condition

• Properties must have a bath

• Kitchen must have a self-closing fire door

• Durable lino floor coverings in kitchen and bathroom (not individual tiles)

• Bedroom sizes must conform to those required by the relevant authority

• Separate living room

• Neat decorations throughout

• Gas central heating or electric storage heaters throughout

• Wind and water-tight

• Double-glazing throughout

• Loft insulation

• Structurally sound

• Well-maintained shared areas (if applicable)

In most London boroughs we accept flats up to the 2nd floor without a lift, and higher with a reliable lift.

We may accept flats above shops depending on the access to the property, and the type of business occupying the shop.

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Specification

You will need to provide the following before the commencement of any lease:

Proof of ownershipThis should be a copy of the Land Registry entry dated in the last three months, or a recent letter from a solicitor confirming your ownership of the property.

Building insuranceA copy of the current buildings insurance policy confirming the property will be insured while it is let to a Registered Social Landlord. You must renew the policy annually throughout the term of the lease.

Lender’s permissionIf the property is the subject of a mortgage or other charge, you will be required to provide proof confirming that consent to lease the property to us has been obtained. If there is no mortgage on the property, please confirm this in writing.

Freeholder’s permissionIf the property is leasehold, you will be required to provide proof confirming that consent to lease the property to us has been obtained from the freeholder.

Gas and electrical test certificatesAn electrical test certificate must be provided by the electricity board or an NICEIC registered electrician, certifying that the installation complies with 17th Edition regulations. This certificate must have been issued in the last three

months, be an original (not a copy), and must be valid for a minimum period of three years.

To find a NICEIC registered electrician in your area, you can contact the NICEIC on 0870 013 0382, or visit their website atwww.niceic.org.uk.

A landlord’s gas test certificate must be provided by a registered engineer on the Gas Safe Register, certifying that the installation and supply of all gas appliances, including any gas cooker and gas fires, comply with current regulations. The certificate must have been issued within the last three months, and must be an original (not a copy).

To find a Gas Safe registered engineer in your area, you can contact the Gas Safe Register on 0800 408 5500, or visit their website at www.gassaferegister.co.uk.

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must be provided. From 1 October 2008 all properties have to have an EPC before they can be let. An EPC shows the energy efficiency of a property, and makes recommendations on how to improve this, and lower both energy bills and it’s impact on the environment. This is valid for ten years from the date of issue.

If you would like more information on EPCs and details of contractors in your area, visit www.epcregister.com.

Service contract - British Gas Homecare 200 contractWe must be supplied with correspondence confirming acceptance onto the British Gas Homecare 200 service contract or an equivalent contract with an alternative supplier. You must renew the contract annually throughout the terms of the lease. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectorsA mains-wired smoke detector must be provided in all hall and landing areas. A battery-operated smoke detector must be provided in all reception rooms. A carbon-monoxide detector alarm must also be fitted and located as stated in the manufacturer’s instructions.

Internal glass doorsInternal glass doors must conform to BS6206.

Window restrictorsWe require openable window restrictors on all windows first floor or higher.

KeysWe will require three sets of keys to all external doors. You must also provide keys for all windows with locks. We advise you to keep a spare set of window keys because we cannot guarantee the tenant will return them to us at the end of the lease.

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Furniture

In all London boroughs, the owner must provide a cooker, fridge, freezer, carpets, nets and curtains before the property is let. (The cooker, fridge and freezer are subject to gas and electrical test certificates described on page 7).

In some areas we do not require any other furniture. In other boroughs, the landlord is required to provide furnished accommodation for tenants.

Once a tenant moves in, the Housing Officer will order the furniture they require and the cost will be recharged to the landlord. If the tenant already has furniture, there will be no charge.

The landlord will only be expected to pay for basic furniture comprising of:

• Three-piece suite

• Dining table with an appropriate number of chairs for the property size

• Wardrobes for each bedroom

• Chest of drawers for each bedroom

• A bed for each family member

The tenant will be responsible for supplying any additional furniture.

The approximate cost of furnishing a property is:

• 1 bedroom, 2 person flat: £800.00

• 2 bedroom, 4 person flat: £1,100.00

• 3 bedroom, 5 person house: £1,400.00

• 4 bedroom, 7 person house: £1,700.00

These costs include delivery charges and VAT, and are estimates based on the usual furniture a tenant would require in the property.

9Leasing scheme for landlords

Rent paymentsRent payments are made in arrears on the last working day of each month. All payments are processed through the bank automatic clearing service (BACS). Please note that where a property is let on or after the 18th of the month, then the first payment, including the amount due from the first month, will be made on the last working day of the second month.

Administration feeThere is a one off administration charge in respect of each property which is currently £110 plus VAT. This amount will be deducted from the first payment of rent. There will be no charge when contracts are renewed.

For more information on this charge, please speak to your Property Negotiator.

RechargesIf we have carried out any repairs on your behalf, we will deduct the cost of this work, plus an administration charge, from your monthly rent. We will send you a letter notifying you of any deductions from your rent before the payments are made.

UtilitiesThe occupier will be responsible for the payment of water rates, gas, electricity and council tax.

As the owner, you will be responsible for paying service charges and ground rent. If the service charge includes payment for heating and hot water, you will be liable for this payment unless the freeholder can invoice our tenant seperately for this part of the service charge.

Payments

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Taxation

As the owner, you will be required to pay tax on any rental income received. However, almost all expenditures related to a rental property are deductible from rental income before calculating any profit. Our Negotiators can offer general information on this but you should speak to your accountant for detailed advice.

If you are a non-UK resident you must provide us with confirmation that you have notified HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of your circumstances. Otherwise, we will be required to deduct the tax from your rent payments and pass it on to the HMRC. More information for oversees landlords can be found at www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nr_landlords.htm.

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Contact us

To arrange an appointment for a Negotiator to view your property, please contact us:

Email: acquisitions@a2dominion.co.uk

Phone: 020 8825 1975

In writing: Temporary Accommodation TeamA2Dominion Group113 Uxbridge Road,Ealing London, W5 5TL

For further information on our landlord scheme, please visit our website at www.a2dominion.co.uk

Our phones are answered: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm

Our main offices are open: Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.30pmFriday, 8.30am to 5pm

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