Rules & Regs For Landlords

terrace-of-georgian. Rules For Landlords

If you're thinking about becoming a landlord by letting property to tenants, then there are certain rules that you must abide by. Find out who you need to notify and what you need to provide for your tenants by law.

By Emma Jones

Can You Rent?

The first step if you're thinking about becoming a landlord is to find out if you are entitled to rent out your property.

If you have a mortgage, this means checking the agreement you have made with your mortgage provider. They will probably require you to change your mortgage (for example, to a buy to let mortgage), which is likely to incur fees and/or a higher monthly payment.

You will also need to check with your building insurer to make sure that the buildings insurance covers you when letting the property out. And if the property is leasehold, you should inform the head landlord.

Finally, the property must be fit to be rented out. Of course, it should be in a good state generally but it's worth checking the whole property over and making sure you're happy with the level of maintenance that will be required before going ahead with rental. By law, 'fit for human habitation' includes the structure and exterior (including drains, gutters and external pipes) as well as the interior. Access to basic services - heating, water, electricity - is vital and you're going to have to be ready to respond promptly when repairs need to be made.

Before Your Tenants Move In

If your property has a gas supply, it is vital that you obtain gas safety certificates for all the relevant appliances (such as the boiler and gas oven) before any tenants move in. Most Gas Safe (formerly CORGI) registered heating engineers will be able to arrange this; they will check your gas appliances and issue you and your tenant with the correct paperwork, which must be updated annually.

Since October 2008, it has also been mandatory to provide tenants with an energy performance certificate (EPC). To get one of these, you'll need to contact an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA), which you can find by searching online or in the Yellow Pages.

Will your property by furnished or unfurnished? Depending on the area, it's usually easier to let an unfurnished property. But if you will be providing furniture, be aware that all soft furnishings, including beds, sofas, cushions and upholstered chairs, must be non-flammable - and they must have the 'Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988' labels to prove it.