Yes – however there are things you should consider if you plan to retain the garage:
- If the garage is part of the property, as registered with Land Registry, make it clear on any marketing information that the property for let does not include the garage. This is material information that could influence a prospective tenants decision to apply for a tenancy.
- Ensure the tenancy agreement makes it clear that the tenancy does not include the garage. Typically this will be a special condition that should be pointed out to the tenant before the agreement is signed.
- If you need to visit the garage during the tenancy, you will need to be mindful of the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment of the property and ensure visits are kept to a minimum and the tenant is given reasonable notice of the visit. This is particularly important where the garage is located alongside the Dwelling or access to the garage requires passage across the land that is part of the property.
- Do not store anything in the garage that is inflammable or likely to explode when in contact with heat e.g. gas cannisters.
- Consider whether you have adequate insurance cover for the garage and contents during the tenancy – check with your insurer.
- To cover yourself against items being stolen from the garage in your absence, ensure you have an accurate record of the contents.
- Knowing they are being excluded from part of the property, in this case the garage, can discourage some tenants from applying for a tenancy:
- believing they are paying a market rate rent but not having access to all the property;
- concerns about what is stored in the garage;
- concerns about how often the landlord will be visiting and whether they will be informed of the visits beforehand.
Offering the property at a reduced rent can go some way to mitigating the prospective tenants concerns.
Any easier, and possibly more cost-effective, solution may be best to dispose, sell, gift or store the contents away from the property and not use the garage.
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