Landlords Co-Living

HMO Property Management in Liverpool: What Tenancy Agreement do I Need for a HMO? 

For most HMO landlords in Liverpool, tenancy agreements will be ASTs (Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements). Individual ASTs can be signed with every single tenant or, alternatively, it’s possible to  have a single AST for a group of tenants. In general, though, individual contracts are most popular.  

How to draw up a HMO tenancy agreement is a question we are often asked, and, as you would  expect, there are key clauses that you should include. Here, we’ll look at some of them.

 

1 – All Parties’ Personal Details 

Your contract must clearly define all parties to a tenancy agreement, setting out names and details  like their previous addresses. Both your own and your tenants’ details must be outlined in the  agreement. If someone else is providing a deposit, their details may be included too. 

 

2 – The Property Details  

The address of the property must be included in the contract along with the start and end date of  the tenancy.

 

3 – Deposit Information  

It’s standard to request a deposit from your tenant when they sign their tenancy agreement. This is  security should they cause any damage or fail to make a payment. Your agreement should outline the  amount of the deposit as well as how it will be protected.

 

4 – The Rent

Your agreement must clearly state the amount, where, when, and to whom the rent must be paid. Also state what happens if there are rent areas, and the amount of interest charged on late  payments. If your tenant has a guarantor, their details must be in the agreement too.

 

5 – List of Landlord Obligations  

It’s a HMO landlord’s responsibility to keep all communal facilities and areas clean and maintained. It’s also the responsibility of the HMO landlord to carry out gas safety checks every year and ensure  that copies of the certificate are displayed in the property’s communal area and sent to the council. An electrical safety inspection must be performed at least every 5 years, with electric fixture checks made over the tenancy’s course. Landlords also need to adhere to all fire safety regulations. The landlord must also ensure that certain fixtures like sinks, cooking instruments, cupboards,  refrigerators, worktops, extractor fans, fire doors and blankets, among other things, are in place. Landlords are also responsible for paying council tax, although the amount can be reflected in the  rent charged to the tenants. Landlords must list all the bills that are included in the rent on the  agreement to avoid any disagreements.’

 

6 – Tenant Behaviour Guidelines 

Some classic clauses to add to an AST regarding tenant behaviour include those that prohibit trade or  business from your property, a requirement to use your property with due care and to maintain its  cleanliness. There should also be prohibitions on illegal activities and antisocial behaviours such as  harassment and excess noise. Many landlords add clauses to prohibit smoking to their contracts.

 

7 – Access and Notice Periods 

The notice period required for vacating the tenancy must be outlined clearly as well as where and  how notice should be served. It’s also important to outline how access by the HMO landlord can be gained, giving details specific about notice periods. A clause stating that access can’t be denied for  the completion of legally required checks and tasks should also be included.  

If you’re looking for an easier way to manage your HMO property in Liverpool look no further than the Portus Lets Ltd. We are experts in the HMO property management sector and can help you with every element of HMO property management including HMO tenancy agreements. Get in touch with us today on 0151 329 3538 or hello@portuslets.co.uk to learn more.

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