If you are letting a property in England as either a landlord or a letting agent, following the correct process and issuing the right documentation to your tenants at the right time is essential. Without it you run the risk of invalidating your insurance and voiding the tenancy agreement.
How to Rent guide
One of the most important documents to provide is the government’s How to Rent checklist. This provides an overview of tenant rights and landlord responsibilities, covering everything from deposit protection to permitted fees.
All landlords or letting agents should give an up-to-date copy of the guide to their tenant when a new assured shorthold tenancy begins and an updated version at tenancy renewals if the document has since been amended. It can be provided as a hard copy or a PDF via email if the tenant is happy to receive an electronic version.
A written tenancy agreement
The tenancy agreement will be a written document outlining the individual rights and responsibilities of the tenant. It may also cover issues such as when rent can be increased and by how much. It will usually be a document that follows a standard template however the tenant has the right to ask that you consider a different version. The tenancy agreement should be agreed, signed and served before the tenant moves in. Both parties should keep a copy.
An inventory or check-in report
Another pre-moving-in requirement is an inventory or check-in report. Providing photos, or allowing the tenant to take photos to go on record, can help prevent tenant disputes if there is an issue that could impact the deposit at the end of the tenancy.
Deposit paperwork
If you have taken a deposit from your tenant, you have a legal obligation to protect it in a government-approved scheme within 30 days. You must serve tenants with the relevant information about where their money is being held, as well as how they can get it back at the end of the tenancy.
Landlord contact details
You must also provide tenants with the name of the landlord and an address in England and Wales where tenants can serve you with notices in writing. Rent is not lawfully due until this information has been provided so this is another piece of documentation to provide as tenants move in.
The EPC certificate
The Energy Performance Certificate outlines how energy-efficient a property is and is increasingly being used to help tenants decide which properties to choose. This document should be provided at the start of the tenancy.
An EICR report
The tenant must also be assured that national electrical safety standards are being met in the property they are renting. All electrical wiring, sockets, consumer units (fuse boxes) and other fixed electrical parts should be inspected and tested every five years. A copy of this report should be given to the tenant before they move in and must also be provided to the local council if they ask for it.
Gas safety certificate
Similarly, if your rental property has gas appliances, such as a gas boiler, they must be tested every year by a registered gas engineer with a copy of the gas safety certificate also given to the tenant.
For more information on how Kings Group can assist you on your letting journey, please contact one of our branches in Essex, London or Hertfordshire today. We also offer a free and instant online valuation to give you an idea of how much your property could be worth on the current market.
