The Landlords Quiz

1. The Landlords Quiz Inside Housing Solutions Ltd South Barn, Cowix Farm, Capel Road, Rusper, West Sussex RH12 4PY Tel: 01293 871107 info@insidehousingsolutions.com

2. Question 1 As a Landlord am I required by law to issue a written tenancy agreement?

3. Question 2 Can you include a term in your tenancy agreements saying “No Pets”?

4. Question 3 Shortly after signing the tenancy agreement, the tenant phones you up and says that they want to withdraw from the agreement as they have found somewhere else. When you say no, the tenants tell you that under the Consumer Contracts Regs 1999 they are entitled to a 14 day cooling off period – is this true?

5. Question 4 You agree a 6 month fixed term AST with your tenant to start on 4th February 2010. There is one date during the tenancy when the tenant can leave without giving you any notice. That date is also the expiry date of the tenancy agreement. What is that date?

6. Question 5 Once the tenancy expires you decide not to give another fixed term, but instead to allow the tenancy to roll on a month by month basis, (it has become a period tenancy). On the 11th September you decide you want your property back and serve a S.21 notice. What date must this notice expire for it to be a valid notice?

7. Question 6 Your tenant moved into your property in May 2006. The fixed term of the tenancy ended a long time ago, but you never made provision for increasing the rent in the original tenancy agreement. So, (being a reasonable landlord) you write to your tenant saying that you intend to increase the rent by £25 a month from July’s payment. You ask the tenant to sign the letter and return it to you as confirmation. However the tenant refuses. Have you increased the rent legally?

8. Question 7 You notify your tenant that you will be undertaking a periodic property inspection. Upon arriving at the property you find that the locks have been changed and you cannot gain access. You have a clause in your TA saying that the tenant may not change the locks without giving you a set of keys. So, what will you do now?

9. Question 8 You have a long standing tenant who misses their monthly rent payment and you are unable to get hold of them on the phone. So you visit the house. By looking through the curtains you can see post piled up and it appears as though some furniture may have been removed. When are you entitled to: • Enter the property? • Serve an Abandonment Notice? • Re-let the property to a new tenant?

10. Question 9 You reach verbal agreement with your tenants to move out on 15th March. To be ‘safe’ you ask the tenants to sign a statement saying they agree the tenancy ends on that date. You go ahead and market the property and get an incoming tenant due to commence their tenancy on 16th March. You sign a tenancy agreement with them on this basis. Upon arriving at the property on the 15th the outgoing tenants say they have changed their minds and are staying. Can you force them to move due to the signed statement? What, if any, rights does the incoming tenant have?

11. Question 10 Your tenants serve correct notice to move out on 15th March. You accept. You go ahead and market the property and get an incoming tenant due to commence their tenancy on 16th March. You sign a tenancy agreement with them on this basis. Upon arriving at the property on the 15th the outgoing tenants say they have changed their minds and are staying. This time what are your rights?