Thinking about letting your property? Take a look at our guide, which covers the essentials.
To view a topic, simply click on it for further details. We’ve also created a print-friendly version. If you’ve got any questions, just call a member of our dedicated team on 01702 443 546.
Here’s an overview of your main legal requirements as a landlord. We’ll make sure you meet these regulations when required as part of our full property management service.
All landlords are required to provide a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for their rented property, issued by an approved EPC assessor.
This certificate will show the energy efficiency rating of your property, based on a scale from A (the most energy efficient) to G (the least efficient). An EPC lasts for 10 years and can be used for multiple tenancies throughout that period.
At Gateway Residential, we work in partnership with experienced EPC assessors to produce a swift report, avoiding any delays in marketing your property.
Landlords in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) must ensure every electrical installation in their residential premises is inspected and tested at intervals of no more than 5 years by a qualified and competent person.
Following the inspection and testing, a private landlord must –
A landlord must make sure that every gas appliance and gas installation pipe work owned by them is checked for safety at lease once a year, avoiding the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Inspections need to be carried out by a registered engineer (formerly from the Corgi Register; now the Gas Safe Register), who will assess installation and maintenance.
You should keep accurate records of these safety inspections and have a current Gas Safe safety certificate to hand.
This certificate must always be available for a tenant to see before occupying a property. These regulations first came into force in 1994, with subsequent updates.
Landlords are legally required to put working smoke alarms on every floor of their property where there is a room used wholly or partially as living accommodation.
Landlords must also put working carbon monoxide alarms in every room with an appliance that burns, or is capable of burning, solid fuel (not gas or gas boilers). This includes log and coal burning stoves and open fires, even if these are not normally in use.
The regulations apply to houses and flats and failure to comply can lead to a civic penalty of up to £5,000.
Read all about the fundamentals of being a landlord, from what’s required when handling a tenant’s deposit to gaining consent to let and your insurance options.
When taking a deposit for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) in England or Wales (the default legal category of residential tenancy), all landlords – or their letting agents – must register key details and safeguard the money held.
This is achieved by using a government-approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). The Housing Act 2004 refers and more details can be found online. Separate schemes apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
We’ll collect the deposit on your behalf and administer the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). We can also provide our full management service, which takes care of everything on your behalf. Once a contract is terminated, we’ll refund, or apportion, the deposit as agreed by you and the tenant in a quick and timely manner.
Before deciding on how you'd like to manage your deposits, speak to us as we’ll be happy to provide some free guidance. Most likely, we’ll recommend that you lodge your tenant’s deposit with the Deposit Protection Service (DPS) within 14 days. The DPS is the only free scheme available and is open to all landlords and letting agents.
For further information, go to depositprotection.com and it’s worth visiting the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) too, at thedisputeservice.co.uk (authorised by the Department for Communities and Local Government).
If you have a mortgage on the property you wish to rent out, you must first obtain consent from your mortgage lender.
You should also check whether you own your property freehold or have a lease. If the latter, your lease may require you to obtain consent from your landlord before sub-letting it.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be responsible for insuring the building.
Comprehensive buildings insurance policies will cover damage caused by flood, fire, storm, subsidence (normally) and a number of other risks (perils). You may also wish to consider Rent & Legal Protection.
Our associated company can advise you on what’s best. For further details, visit our subsidiary company: Associated Insurance Services.