Landlord Checklist

All the money and the people involved in a property transaction must be legitimate.

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws mean that all estate agents must check for any illegal activity. This means, every time you conduct a property transaction with an agent, you'll need to show a valid photo ID and a recent utility bill.

We'll do the same checks for your tenants to keep everything safe and secure.

It is a legal requirement for landlords to have a valid EPC before their property is let. 

An EPC measures the energy efficiency of a property using a scale of A-G and is valid for 10 years.

The EPC rating must be at least E.

A qualified person will conduct the assessment, which also shows the building's impact on the environment by measuring its carbon dioxide emissions. The assessor checks things like wall, floor, and roof insulation, boiler efficiency, and even the type of lightbulbs used.

Property licensing varies from borough to borough.

Generally, it consists of making an application to your local council where you provide information on your property to show it meets housing standards. The council then reviews your application to ensure your property meets all the criteria, and grants you a license.

License fees vary but are often between £750 - £1,000.

As an Honest Lettings landlord, we'll keep you informed about all the licensing requirements for your rental properties. We can also help with your license application from start to finish.

In the UK, it's a legal requirement to check a tenant's right to rent a property, which includes checking their ID and verifying your tenants are who they say they are. 

All prospective tenants over 18 must be checked.

We use a software provider to quickly and accurately verify a tenant's identity, which we corroborate with meeting with them in-person.

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) checks the safety of a property's electrical system and describes its condition. This includes things like fuse boards, protective bonding, lighting, switches, and sockets.

All rental properties must have an EICR with a 'satisfactory' rating. If the rating is 'unsatisfactory', repairs need to be done within 28 days or sooner. A 'satisfactory' EICR is valid for up to five years.

A required test to make sure gas appliances and supply points in the property are safe.

Gas Safety Certificates (GSCs) need to be renewed every 12 months by a registered engineer who will check the flue and appliances. Even if we don't manage your rental property, we can help arrange these checks for you.

Don't forget to give your tenants a copy of the new GSC within 28 days of the check.

By law, landlords must ensure their property has a functioning smoke alarm on each floor.

Furthermore, if your property has a fixed combustion appliance, such as a wood burner, there must also be a carbon monoxide alarm fitted in the relevant room. 

These alarms can be bought online. 

The 'How to Rent Guide' is an online government document that must be given to all tenants at the start or renewal of their tenancy. It explains their legal rights and responsibilities as tenants and the landlord's legal obligations.

As your letting agent, we can handle this part on your behalf by providing your tenant with the most up-to-date version of the guide.

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets that contain Legionella bacteria.

While it's rare, landlords must check their properties for this risk.

A quick and simple check can reveal if your property's water systems are at risk. Most home systems are low-risk due to regular water usage and flow, which prevents standing water.

You could reduce risks by:

• Flushing the system before a new tenancy starts
• Removing any unused or eroded pipework
• Ensuring systems have tight-fitting lids
• Making sure hot water remains hot and cold water remains cold (e.g. when you turn the tap for hot water, it doesn't go cold after a while)
• Keeping water moving

Rental properties need to be clean when a tenant moves in, and a check-in inventory report records the property's condition at that time.

This helps make both moving in and moving out smooth and reduces disagreements and delays over cleaning or damages at the end of the tenancy.

We recommend a professional clean before the move-in date and an independent inventory at check-in to record the exact condition of all areas inside and outside the property.

You don’t legally need a specific landlord insurance policy, but not having one could break the terms of your mortgage.

Plus, we’re big on peace of mind so we recommend that you always have landlords' insurance in place when letting a property.

Part of landlords' insurance, you can also add a policy for a rent guarantee which means, if a tenant is more than 14 days late in making a rent payment, the insurance will cover it. 

We can advise you through getting the right policy.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) involves checking electrical appliances to ensure they are safe, using visual inspections and electronic tests.

The PAT certificate records the safety tests of items like your fridge/freezer, washing machine, and toaster. Any appliances marked as unsafe should be replaced or taken out of the property.