I have tenants leaving in July and new tenants moving in September. Would I realistically be able to fill in a two month gap? My tenants are students and the property is close to uni so it’s only really likely to be rented out by students. My main concern is that if I could get a tenant to move in that I may not be able to get them to vacate with the RRA now in place.
Do you think this could still work if we’re both in agreement that tenants have already signed for September?
You’d need to have a 2 month notice period and get them to give written notice the day they move in at same time as you give them the keys.
May be short term let options like airbnb but eg max 90days pa for london
Still a risk they stay beyond the 2 months then you’d be in breach for the new students, but thats no much different from previously when students had 12m fixed contracts and new ones were lined up
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Good luck
Absolutely not a void I’d be seeking to fill. I budget every year for voids of up to 6 months across 5 properties. Never ever come even close to that. Use the time to do maintenance, decoration, photos for inventory and getting your ducks in a row, etc.
The property has very recently been renovated and all the inventory etc are scheduled in already. Basically, I have my ducks in a row so the property will just be sitting idle for 2 months. This is why I was looking to rent it if I can.
Enjoy two months off being a LL then.
@Joseph_1 if its unfurnished and unoccupied some utility companies wont charge for the void period if you ask nicely and turn everything off.
Good luck
If you go that route, they might be reassured if you offer to provide evidence of the upcoming tenancy to show that the void is limited.
On this front, make sure you let your insurance company know. They also typically allow a void of this length if you provide evidence that you have a tenancy arranged (in my experience).
Oh, and if it’s mortgaged, let the lender know too.
I used to fill in a property with an out of season letting agreement. I also had an apartment hotel where they had to sign their permanent living address was elsewhere so would do that, couple of possibles..,but
With all the new rules i would be wary of doing anything like that now and personally would look to doing any jobs that you could usefully do ? A detailed inspection can throw up things you hadnt noticed
I think you’re best off leaving it empty. You’ll need to pay council tax though. In my area the rate is double for empty properties.
It’s worth checking this situation out as I recently read that councils can’t legally charge double council tax until after the statutory period of 12 months for an empty home . A friend recently received a double charge from the local authority billed as a 'second home ’ after a relative had moved out. When we looked into it they shouldn’t have sent this bill and a quick Google search lead to the relative legislation about empty homes and the 12 month rule. See 'Leveling up and regeneration act 2023’regarding empty homes…
Double after a certain amount of time
Can’t be double until 12 months for unfurnished empty properties 