The legal requirements a landlord must follow before letting a property in England:
- Gas Safety Certificate: A landlord must provide a Gas Safety Certificate to tenants before they move in, and annually thereafter, to ensure that gas appliances, pipes, and flues are safe.
- Electrical Safety Certificate: From 1st July 2020, all new tenancies (and from 1st April 2021, all existing tenancies) must have an Electrical Safety Certificate to ensure that electrical installations are safe.
- Energy Performance Certificate: Landlords must provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to tenants, which rates the energy efficiency of the property, before they move in.
- Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms: Landlords must install smoke alarms on every floor of the property and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with a solid fuel source, and ensure they are in working order before tenants move in.
- Right to Rent Check: Landlords must check that all tenants have the right to rent in the UK before they move in. This involves checking passports or other official documents.
- Tenancy Deposit Protection: Landlords must protect a tenant’s deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it.
- Landlord Licensing: Some local authorities require landlords to obtain a license before they can let a property. This usually involves attending a training course and meeting certain criteria.
- Fire Safety: Landlords must ensure that the property complies with fire safety regulations, which may include providing fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and fire doors.
- Repairs and Maintenance: Landlords are responsible for maintaining the property and carrying out repairs when necessary.
- The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS): Landlords must ensure that the property is free from hazards that could affect the health and safety of tenants. The HHSRS provides a framework for assessing these risks.
These are some of the legal requirements that landlords must follow before letting a property in England. It’s important to keep up-to-date with any changes in the law and to seek professional advice if you’re unsure about your obligations as a landlord.