Legal query re being a landlord

[timwilky]

Can I use this thread to ask a further letting related question

My friend and neighbour has let his house whilst he is working abroad for 3 years. He asked me if he could put me on his lease agreement as his agent as it would entitle me entry to the house if I had any concerns and to arrange any repairs etc.

Does me being named as his agent give me any legal responsibilities that may bite me? The tenant has his phone/eMail address and corresponds directly with him. The only time the tennent has so far contact me directly was when the alarm had failed and the bell was going every 5 minutes.

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by timwilky

Can I use this thread to ask a further letting related question

My friend and neighbour has let his house whilst he is working abroad for 3 years. He asked me if he could put me on his lease agreement as his agent as it would entitle me entry to the house if I had any concerns and to arrange any repairs etc.

Does me being named as his agent give me any legal responsibilities that may bite me? The tenant has his phone/eMail address and corresponds directly with him. The only time the tennent has so far contact me directly was when the alarm had failed and the bell was going every 5 minutes.

No, use your own thread.

When I let my house, I was asked if I had any prefered contractors in case of any problems. I put a plumber and sparky down, then put the guy next door as first contact for any small jobs. Might this be the same; basically he is naming you as a contact to organise any work? If so, I wouldn't have expected any legal comeback, unless you carry out some work (eg on gas appliances) that you are not legally qualified to do.

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by Ed

We do a lot of land transactions here and we're very reasonably priced y'know *flagrant plug for work*

Cheers for the offer, but the other half has an uncle who is doing it all for us, and is only just down the road to go and sign stuff etc.

Originally Posted by Gazza77

Cheers for the offer, but the other half has an uncle who is doing it all for us, and is only just down the road to go and sign stuff etc.

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by timwilky

Can I use this thread to ask a further letting related question

My friend and neighbour has let his house whilst he is working abroad for 3 years. He asked me if he could put me on his lease agreement as his agent as it would entitle me entry to the house if I had any concerns and to arrange any repairs etc.

Does me being named as his agent give me any legal responsibilities that may bite me? The tenant has his phone/eMail address and corresponds directly with him. The only time the tennent has so far contact me directly was when the alarm had failed and the bell was going every 5 minutes.

Originally Posted by Gazza77

No, use your own thread.

When I let my house, I was asked if I had any prefered contractors in case of any problems. I put a plumber and sparky down, then put the guy next door as first contact for any small jobs. Might this be the same; basically he is naming you as a contact to organise any work? If so, I wouldn't have expected any legal comeback, unless you carry out some work (eg on gas appliances) that you are not legally qualified to do.

Tim, if you are "acting" as an agent for your friend you will be subject to the full force of the law as set out in the 1979 Estate Agents Act and any amendments thereafter. You can be liable for some things you'd never have considered under that Act, such as making sure tax is paid at source befor the rent is passed on and all kinds of silly little things like that. However the reality is that its unlikely anything will come of it.

On the second example Gaz has given, thats differnt. Tats simply saying "these are who to contact should the poop hit the fan"

So basically Tim, you'd be better off to be put down as an "in case of emergency" contact as opposed to the routine contact just in case.

HTH