Terms & Conditions

SERVICES PROVIDED – Upon your instructions HAS Property Management will undertake at no further cost to yourself:

a) Accompanied viewings with prospective tenants
b) Taking up references on prospective tenants
c) Supervising rent collections
d) Preparation of monthly rent statements and transfer of net monies
to Landlords via BACS.
e) Retention of deposit from the tenant, held in the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, against possible dilapidation’s.
f) Periodic inspections.

RENT – Rent is collected in accordance with the terms of the Tenancy Agreement. The Landlord is responsible for the payment of any ground rent, service charges, etc. The tenant is responsible for the gas, electricity, and other fuel where appropriate (if independent system), water rates, council tax, and telephone, if applicable.

AGREEMENTS – HAS Property Management have a comprehensive Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement, which has been drawn up specifically to cover present day legislation and protect your interest. The cost of drawing up this document is normally included in our fee but landlords instructing their own solicitors to prepare a Tenancy Agreement must be responsible for their solicitors’ fees.

FULL INVENTORIES – If furnished, you will need to have an Inventory prepared prior to you letting your property. HAS Property Management recommends an independent company who can provide a most detailed and professional service and we shall be happy to instruct one to act on your behalf. Costs vary slightly from one property to another because of size of property and we shall advise you of this cost when instructed. PLEASE NOTE: HAS Property Management cannot accept any responsibility for the Inventory Companies errors or omissions.

SCHEDULE OF CONDITION – HAS Property Management would also advise that during a tenancy, if requested by the Landlord, an interim inventory be taken. Its purpose is not to check each individual item but to report on the state and condition of the property and whether or not redecoration will be necessary.

DEPOSITS – All Deposits will he held in the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. See appendix B.

TAXES MANAGEMENT ACT – In the majority of cases, where a Landlord is considered non-resident for taxation purposes, he still has to pay United Kingdom income tax on rents arising in this country. Where we collect rent, as your Agent, the Inland Revenue holds us responsible for any income tax on rents collected. Clients tax computations must be dealt with by their accountants or themselves, as we cannot undertake to do this on their behalf. We provide a year-end account, but do not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. When the exact amount of tax payable has been agreed with the Revenue, upon instructions, we will remit this amount on your behalf and account to you for any balance. A fee of £25.00 per month is charged for maintaining a specifically designated account in the Landlords name and for supplying detailed information to accountants. The Landlord hereby indemnifies the Agency, against any amounts demanded by the Inland Revenue on rents received for the Property not covered by any withheld rental. We would point out that neither the Inland Revenue or HAS Property Management pays interest on monies retained for tax purposes.

CONSENT TO LET – HAS Property Management would advise you that if you have a mortgage on the property you will need to obtain a ‘letter of consent’ from the mortgage company. (Should an additional copy of the Shorthold Tenancy Agreement be required, this can be provided at a cost of £50.00 inc VAT). We would also advise you that where the property is Leasehold written consent from the Superior Landlords should be given before you sublet.

INSURANCE – HAS Property Management also advise you to notify your Insurance Company of your intention to sublet so that they may advise you of any additional cover that may be necessary. It should be noted that your Insurance Company will not cover Tenants’ personal items and they are advised to take out separate insurance.

CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP – Please advise us if the property changes ownership during the tenancy. In the event of the property being sold or passed on whilst under our full management, HAS Property Management will look to the original owner of the property for the full initial letting fee or commission for a period of three months, whichever is greater.

PAYMENT OF OUTGOINGS – HAS Property Management will pay ground rents, service charges, etc., on your behalf if requested. To enable us to do this, you will need to inform the various parties to send all bills and invoices to us for payment. Although we will do our best to question discrepancies on any bills received, we do, however, reserve the right to accept and pay bills on your behalf, which appear to be correct.

RENEWAL OF TENANCIES – The initial tenancy agreement will be for a fixed term of 6 months. After this period, we will contact yourself and the tenants to see if you would like to renew the contract. If you would not like to renew the tenancy agreement, it can be carried on to a statutory periodic tenancy, which will be on a month to month basis.

CONTRACTORS – HAS Property Management full management service covers the instruction of contractors to carry out repairs to the property and investigate faults reported. In the case of minor repairs or emergencies (max £250.00) these works will be carried out immediately and then reported to you, unless we hear from you otherwise. When major works are necessary, i.e. roofing, replacement of a boiler or redecoration, an estimate will be obtained and sent to you for approval. In a majority of cases we are happy to use Landlords own contractors. However, we reserve the right to instruct our own contractors in the case of any emergency or if the Landlords contractors are unable to undertake the necessary work within a reasonable length of time.

INSPECTIONS – Our Management Service involves inspecting your property during the tenancy periodically. Whilst we would investigate any defect found or brought to our attention by the Tenant, we cannot accept responsibility of any latent or inherent defects.

EMPTY PROPERTIES – Our Management service does not include the supervision of empty properties. Once the property is untenanted, we cannot pay bills on your behalf or instruct contractors unless part of a refurbishment program.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES – The cost of overseas telephone calls, the forwarding of mail, and the transmission of faxes are charged to the Landlord.

SELLING TO TENANT or OTHER THIRD PARTY – In the event that a tenant or other party introduced to you by HAS Property Management negotiates the purchase of the said property HAS Property Management will charge a commission of 1.5% of the negotiated purchase price. This fee is payable on completion whether or not negotiations have been carried out by HAS Property Management.

TERMINATING OF MANAGEMENT SERVICE – The Landlord may terminate this agency appointment with HAS Property Management after the initial period of the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement, by serving the Agency thereafter with three months notice in writing paying all Agency fees that would be due.

In the event that the ‘Full Management Service’ be terminated, HAS Property Management reserves the right to charge the Landlord the full initial ‘Letting Fee’ or three months commission (whichever is the greatest).

LIABILITY – HAS Property Management shall in no way either directly or indirectly, be liable for any deficiency, loss or damage to the premises, the fixtures, fittings or contents thereof, however caused, whether included in the inventory or not.

The Landlord must comply with the obligations and requirements of the various safety legislations and regulations that apply to rented properties.

The owner undertakes to ratify whatsoever the Agency shall lawfully do, by virtue of this Agreement and to indemnify them against all costs and expenses properly incurred by them.

GENERAL CONDITIONS – Should the Landlord wish to enter the property during the period of the let, a “24 hour notice” must be given to the Tenant.

Based in Hastings with over 60 years' experience in property letting and property management, we are experts in placing the right tenants with the home of their dreams.

HAS Property Management are a members of the ‘Client Money Protect’ and ‘Property Redress Scheme’.