6 Things To Consider As a Leaseholder Before You Go on Holiday

As the holiday season approaches, life may look different if you live in a leasehold property. There are our 6 top things you must consider, which may not affect a freehold homeowner, though some are relevant for both.

As a multi award winning residential Block Management company we know only too well how stressful it can be if anything goes wrong whilst you’re away enjoying a well-earned rest.

Remember Residential Block Management is the process of managing the communal areas of residual properties through the service charge. You’ve got to make sure your property is safe and secure before you go away.

At Fraser Allen Estate Management we are used to taking away all the stress and worry and manage it on your behalf, so take our advice and consider these top 6 points and make sure your holiday is all plain sailing….

Our 6 Top Tips:

1. Turn off your water. This is particularly important if you are in a flat or apartment. If you have a water leak, it may not only affect your home, but could easily flood other flats in the building affecting others too. They will not be happy and someone like me may have to access your property and carry out any immediate associated works which you will have to pay for.
2. Unplug electrical items that don’t need to be on. Fires can be started by electrical faults so it’s always safer to turn appliances off.
3. Leave a key with a neighbour in case of emergency. 
4. Tell your managing agent when you’re away and provide them with emergency contact details and /or key holder information. If I’m your agent, I need to know how to access your property, I’d not want to be in the position of having to break doors down or change locks.
5. Stay quiet on social media. Don’t post saying you are going away for a few weeks, however excited you are, and however special the place is that you’re visiting. You can tell everyone when you are home.  Did you know it could affect your buildings insurance if you make it public that you’re not at home, and you are burgled? Be very mindful of this. And don’t get happy ears and post your holiday pictures on social media, when you are away and your home is empty.
6. Don’t leave your flat looking unoccupied. If possible, put some timers on lights, so it looks as though someone is home during the evening. If you can ask a friendly neighbour to drop in once or twice a week to pick up the post and put it on a table so it doesn’t build up or remove any post stuck in a letterbox (a real giveaway for an opportunist burglar). They can water plants. If they are really friendly, ask them to come in and draw curtains and open them for you – you might have this arrangement if you have a cat at home for example.

Insurance is something else you need to ensure you have in place. If your leasehold property is a second home, then you either need to have Second Home Insurance, if you occupy the property at least once every two weeks. Alternatively, if you stay in the property less than this, Holiday Home Insurance may be the right solution. It is best to talk to an insurance company to make sure you have the correct insurance in place and you need to talk to a managing agent like me so that I know who will be around and when.

You require insurance cover because if you leave a property unoccupied for any length of time, it is more vulnerable to thieves, squatters and weather- related damage, and a standard home insurance policy may not cover you if something happened.

Check Your Lease

This may seem a good way of generating a little extra income while you are on holiday, or away on business. However, for leaseholders it may not be so straight forward.

Many lease terms in contracts do not permit properties to be sublet at all – and that includes for holiday lets. Clauses can often say:

• They should not use or occupy the flat otherwise than as a single private residential unit.

This means that the clause is breached if the flat is not being used as a residential flat, but a short-stay temporary accommodation with transient visitors paying to use the flat.

• Not to use the property for purposes of business.

This is another clause that many leases have. Letting out to holiday guests is considered a business use.

• Not to cause or permit or suffer a nuisance or annoyance to other residents.

Other residents in the property may be annoyed by guests entering and leaving the building regularly, hauling luggage, or hosting they may be being too noisy, or they may not be comfortable with having people around they do not know or recognise all the time.

• A landlord can forfeit a lease if a leaseholder breaches a covenant.

This is the worst scenario, if you ignore the clauses and covenants in your lease contract and still let your property.

So whilst using Airbnb might sound enticing please check your lease.

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday – you earned it!