Annual Gas Safety Checks
If you have gas appliances in your property then you must carry out annual gas safety checks. An engineer that is registered on the Gas Safety Register can do this for you. You must provide your tenants with a copy of the test certificate.
A Fire Safety Order
If you have control of bedsits, flats or a hostel then you must conduct a risk assessment which complies with the Fire Safety Order. You have to obtain written confirmation of this. If you have a single dwelling let or a shared house then this is not required.
Energy Performance Certificate
You must arrange for an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before you can have a tenant move in to your property. You must also provide a copy of this to the tenant.
Tenant Deposits
When a deposit is taken from a tenant under a tenancy agreement it must be protected under one of the three tenancy deposit schemes. Information about the scheme must be provided to the tenant no more than 30 days after receiving the deposit monies.
Rent Payments And Administration Fees Must Be Made Clear
If you ask for an advance on the rental payments and an administration fee which is non returnable then it must be made clear to the tenant that this is not a deposit and will not be required to be protected by a tenancy deposit scheme.
HMO’s
You need to check with your local authority to determine whether an HMO (house in multiple occupation) license will be required. This will apply to bedsits, a shared house or a shared flat).
Electrical Safety Check
If you have an HMO then you must obtain a five year electrical safety check which can be conducted by a competent electrician. This is required even if you do not need an HMO license.
Electrical Appliances
If you provide electrical appliances in the property then you must ensure that they are checked for safety when you start to rent out your property.
HMO Fire Alarms And Precautions
If you provide a fire alarm system in your HMO then it is your responsibility to ensure that it is regularly checked. All means of escape must be unobstructed and you must check this too.
Carbon Monoxide And Smoke Alarms
If you own a property in England then you must provide smoke alarms on every floor and a carbon monoxide alarm that has a solid fuel source in every other room.
How To Rent Checklist
When a tenant starts their tenancy you are legally required to provide an up to date copy of How to rent: the checklist for renting in England.
Legionnaire’s Disease
You must perform a Legionella assessment risk assessment for Legionnaire’s Disease. The level of assessment will depend on the type of property owned.
Harassment And Illegal Eviction
If you harass your tenants in any way then you will land yourself in trouble. You cannot just evict your tenant if they are behind with their rent or is breaking the tenancy agreement in some other way. You have to obtain a court possession order which is enforceable by the Court Bailiff.
Here is a helpful video about UK landlord responsibilities
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