Whether you have just inherited a property and have become a landlord by accident or you have decided to take the plunge to become a landlord for the first time, there is a lot to consider when preparing a property for rental and it isn’t just about making sure the place is clean and tidy. In this guide we will take a look at what responsibilities you, as a new landlord, have when preparing your property for rental.
Landlord Legislation
In recent years a lot of new legislation has been passed aimed at creating more regulation around the private rented sector. This can be very difficult to navigate and we will cover the main pieces here:
- The first thing to look at, especially if you have become and landlord by accident, is whether you have consent to let the property. If, for example you have moved for work or have decided to move in with a partner and want to rent your property out, it is likely you have a normal residential mortgage. You will need to get your lender’s permission to rent your property out. If the property is leasehold, you might also need permission from the freeholder
- Is the property compliant with the domestic minimum energy efficiency Standard Regulations (MEES)? Currently a property cannot be let out unless it has an EPC rating of at least an E unless it has an exemption. Do you also have the EPC certificate as this is required? Bear in mind that the goalposts are moving on minimum EPC ratings and under new proposals a property will not be allowed to be rented out for new tenancies unless it has an EPC rating of C or better after the end of December 2025 (December 2028 for existing tenancies).
- Have you carried out all the relevant safety checks?
- Annual gas safety checks must be carried out and the certificate given to the tenant
- Electrical safety is also a requirement under the Electrical Safety Standards I the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. This means an electrical safety inspection must be carried out by a qualified electrician every 5 years at least and the report given to the tenant within 28 days
- Is the property compliant with the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations? There must be a working smoke alarm on every floor and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room which has a solid fuel burning appliance. Be aware, though that these regulations are also being reviewed and it is likely that a carbon monoxide alarm will be required in any room with any fixed combustion appliance irrespective of fuel type. Landlords will also be responsible for replacing or fixing any alarms that are not working.
- A fire risk assessment may need to be carried out and any provided soft furnishings will need to have a fire safe label attached.
- A legionella risk assessment is also needed and this is covered under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. This Act incorporates the 29 specific hazards defined in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and adds a further 9 serious defects. For a detailed guide on the Act, visit this website.
- Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 a landlord has the obligation to repair the external structure of the property such as roofs, chimneys, guttering and drains and also that any equipment supplying water, gas and electricity is in safe working order. The duty to repair or replace also extends to sanitary fittings such as baths, sinks and toilets.
- A rental property is a large investment, but worth it in the long run. You will, however, want to protect that investment, so it makes sense to take out specialist landlord insurance. Most normal domestic insurance policies will not cover a landlord’s responsibilities and risks.
Given this raft of legislation, it makes sense to ensure that all the relevant work and risk assessments are carried out prior to offering the property for rent. But then you have the question of whether to offer the property furnished, part furnished. There is no detailed definition of what each means in the law but if you do provide furnishings then they will need to be fire safe and in decent condition.
Preparing the property itself
Your work doesn’t end there, you will want to carry out any repairs needed to the property, replace any worn or broken fixtures and fittings, e.g. carpets that are threadbare or broken ovens. Essentially, without spending a fortune you will want your property to be in good condition. This will not only make repairs and maintenance easier, but it will also make it more attractive to potential tenants.
Agent or no Agent?
This is a personal choice but there are so many advantages to using an agent to manage your rental property for you. An agent will ensure that all right to rent checks are carried out, that the deposit is put into a registered scheme, they will ensure that the cap on deposits is not exceeded, that you comply with the tenant fees ban and, in the full service plans, will also carry out all compliance checks and even ensure repairs and maintenance are carried out. The Belvoir Group manages over 65,000 UK properties and are experts in property rental management. We offer 3 levels of service from full management, to letting and rent collection to tenant find only. With over 170 offices UK wide, there is a office near you where our friendly and expert agents are waiting to help, so why not book an appointment to have a chat with us and we will be able to advise how we can help.
