Letting your property

Your key responsibilities as a landlord:

• Ensuring the property is fit for habitation and free from hazards throughout the tenancy
• Abiding by the Tenant Fees Act 2019, which bans charging unfair fees to tenants and caps tenancy/holding deposits
• Protecting tenancy deposits in a government-approved scheme
• Providing the tenant with your name and an address in England or Wales
• Keeping the property in a good state of repair
• Carrying out gas safety checks and providing the tenant with a copy of the certificate
• Obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – EPC’s must show a minimum rating of no lower than E
• Ensuring electrical installations and appliances are safe – five yearly Condition Reports are required
• Installing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Ensuring your tenant has correct contact details and telephone number for you or your agent in case of an emergency

Before you let your property:

• Ensure that you have an appropriate mortgage or permission from your mortgage lender
• Obtain the freeholder’s consent to sub-let if you are a leaseholder
• Obtain a property licence where necessary
• Check tax obligations as a landlord
• Consider joining a landlord accreditation scheme

Make sure you are following the necessary legal requirements:

• Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and ensure they are in working order at the outset of the tenancy
• Obtain an annual gas safety certificate
• Obtain an EPC for your property, rated E or above
• Ensure furniture supplied has fire safety labels and fireproofing
• Carry out a Legionella risk assessment
• Keep the property and installations in good repair and working order, making sure there are no serious health and safety hazards

Your property will be marketed through our prominent office in Grey Street, market leading websites, targeted mail outs to prospective tenants, various publications and social media platforms.

Our team of Letting Specialists will:

• Vet potential tenants and complete references.
• Draw up legal documentation.
• Prior to commencement of tenancy and before keys are released we will ensure signed paperwork and initial monies are received before passing all details of the tenancy to you.
• Keep you advised and assist with ever changing legislation.

Landlords whose usual place of abode is outside the UK and have UK rental income must comply with the Non-resident Landlord Scheme (NRLS).

If your tenant wishes to remain following the initial tenancy, a new fixed term tenancy or rolling periodic tenancy can be agreed. At this point you could consider a rent increase.