Condominium Fixed Term Lease Agreement: Fill & Download for Free

A flat is simply an apartment.What is the etymology of "flat" in its meaning as an apartment?Bill Welden nails it!In much the same way that you can rent or own an US apartment, you can rent or own a UK flat.It isn’t that uncommon for people in the UK to refer to their flat as an apartment, though the term ‘flat’ is more commonly used.‘Apartment’ is sometimes used as a marketing term, implying something a bit grander than a ‘mere’ flat.Condo? Much more involved I am afraid to say!Deep breath…‘Condo’ refers to a specific US practice, a way of owning a US apartment/flat.Condo (short for condominium, a term that has legal meaning) isn’t really a thing in the UK. There isn’t an exact equivalent. The nearest would be a long leasehold flat with a share of the freehold.(Sometimes called ‘commonhold’, in which the individual leaseholders own the building freehold between them. Separate title would exist for the leasehold flats and the freehold. There isn’t really such thing as a freehold flat, except as legally awkward and very rare, ~usually ancient ~ ‘flying’ freeholds!).In the UK, you ‘own’ a flat by having a long lease on it. Think of it as paying rent in advance for a fixed term of (say) 125 years.The long leasehold is completely different from a monthly rental agreement.In the UK., the monthly-rented flat agreement (the tenancy agreement) is not usually called a ‘lease’ with the same meaning as in the USA.This often provokes confusion in people from the US where the term ‘lease’ has, (in practice), a subtly different but nonetheless important meaning. ‘What, you only have a lease on your apartment? That means you don’t own it??’In the UK, with a long lease, you have the right to occupy that flat for the unexpired term of the lease.The legal protection is sufficient to the extent that leases can be freely sold, used as security for loans (such as mortgages) and the owner of the lease is pretty-much eviction-proof. You ‘own’ your flat just as effectively as anything else you might own.In fact, the legal assurances and guarantees afforded to UK long leasehold owners often far exceed those offered to US condominium owners.(Evicting a leaseholder with a long lease by voiding that lease is a difficult, time-consuming process that rarely succeeds. Any attempt usually results in, at best, a negotiated settlement with the mortgage company that has a loan secured on the flat to settle whatever your beef against the leaseholder was! The mortgage company could then conceivably take separate action against their mortgagee for breaching the terms of their mortgage…!).Your title to the property covered by the lease is registered with the UK’s land registry, the organisation that also registers ownership of freeholds.The freeholder (the person or organisation that owns the land the building containing the flats sits on and the building’s fabric) may make charges for services (such as security, fabric maintenance, insurance etc.).Legally, the freeholder in this case would be referred to as the landlord, though their role & legal powers differ substantially from a landlord who rents-out property on a monthly basis.Older leases could also include a ‘ground rent’, though in more recent years, ground rent isn’t really a factor, as the rate is a so-called ‘peppercorn’, an anachronistic legal term for something of no value.If a group of long leaseholders owners (more that half) within a block wished to buy the freehold, they can force the freeholder to sell at a fair price governed by statute. The process is called enfranchisement.Enfranchisement isn’t as common as might be expected, simply because it can be more convenient for flat owners in larger blocks to pay a service fee to a freeholder for services. This can be more cost-effective that having to do it themselves or having to employ a firm to do it on their behalf.Enfranchisement usually occurs for smaller properties (a couple of flats in a building), or where the freeholder is absent, negligent or sometimes in the case of single-dwelling leasehold-houses.Home - Valuation Tribunal Service, Appeals, Forms, Hearings and FAQ's

Take a look at these things that you need to inspect before renting an apartment.First, you should choose a neighborhood that's comfortable and safe. Visit the area and conduct a schedule, maybe in the evenings and on the weekends when most of the occupants are at home and try to talk to them and get their opinions of the neighborhood.It’s necessary to fully understand the rules, say for example: if the rent includes water, electricity, and cable or Internet connection. You can also ask for the average utility bills in the building by asking the landlord.Inspect the apartment. Schedule a final walk-through with your landlord and check the place before signing your lease. Here’s a few checklist:Floor - Make sure all are cleaned from the carpets, tiles in the kitchen, and the bathroom are swept cleanly. Check if there's no missing, scraped, popping out tiles.Wall - The paint should be consistent throughout the apartment and make sure it isn't composed of toxic materials.Window - Every room should have at least one window and make sure you can actually open and close or lock them easily. The glass of the window isn't chipped or broken, if it’s damaged you can ask the landlord if they can fix it before you transfer, that’s very important for your safety.Electricity - Flick all the light switches and make sure all worked well and none of them appear damaged or have a loose wire hanging out. Make sure there are enough outlets in each room.Bathrooms - Turn on the shower and check if the water flow. Check the walls of the shower to find out if there are any missing or damaged tiles. Check out the toilet if they are clean and they flushed properly.Bedrooms and Doors - Make sure all of the doors shut tightly and there shouldn't be any problems with the doorknobs or any locks. In the bedrooms, check the cabinets or closets and make sure the shelves aren't loose.Kitchen - Check out the stove if all of the switches work and all of the burners get hot when you turn them on. Also, take a good look of the refrigerator if it's work well.Read your lease agreement. Make sure that you are confident with all the terms, and if necessary, ask questions. Sign the document only if you’re comfortable with the terms of the agreement.If you can’t find good apartment to rent, why not try to buy or rent a condominium instead? There are lots of new built condos and affordable. The facilities are far off better than old apartments. You may want to check this Choosing the Type of Condominium Suited for You - Kiener Hills it’s more comfortable and safe.

Landlord is excluded for fixing A/C if:It’s Condominium and you are renting the unit. Corporation or the management is responsible for fixing central air in the buildingIf the A/C unit is hanging out the window(window A/C). I doubt the landlord would be putting that on the lease. Basic things (depends which state you are in)are stove and a fridge. Laundry and A/C are not part of the agreement. Those are sort of luxury items.Landlord is responsible for fixing A/C if:You are in a house and you have your own controls for the heat and A/C. A/C does not necessarily have to be on the lease, as long as it’s central air.My suggestion is forget the A/C. A/C causes respiratory problems long term. Dries the sinuses and makes post nasal drip(A drip that is hitting the back of throat causing to you clear your throat all the time. Humidity level has to be 30–40% to be safe when breathing air. Any lower will cause problems in long run.A/C dries the air to 0%humidity.Also easy to get infection when you have a cold. I m in Canada and summers aren’t that long. Everyone has A/C running in-their cars but me. Your body needs to sweat to get rid of the toxins from you. Plus it exfoliate your skin making it smooth and clear.