The Good Landlord’s Checklist

Getting started

Before you can even start to look for tenants, there are certain things you need to do first. Let’s take a look at what they are.

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  Check if you have the right to rent out your property

  Owning your property – either fully or with a mortgage – doesn’t immediately give you the right to rent it out to other people. If you’re still under a mortgage, then you’ll first need to speak to your lender and see if you’re allowed to let the property.

  If they agree, you might need to switch over to a buy-to-let mortgage.

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  Carry out precursory property checks

  If you’re going to let your property, it needs to be in a state fit to rent. As a landlord, this is your legal responsibility. Before making any major moves, do the following things:

  • Review the property for any immediate problems, damage or fixes
  • Remove any furnishings (if letting unfurnished)
  • Have a gas safety check carried out
  • Have an electrical safety check carried out
  • Test and replace/fit smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each floor
  • Have the property professionally cleaned and decorated neutral
  • Test and replace any white goods
  • Tidy the garden spaces
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  Register as a landlord and obtain any licenses

  Registration and licensing requirements depend on your location and property type. Here’s an overview:

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    Scotland
    All landlords must register on the Scottish Landlord Register. This replaces a traditional landlord licence. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £50,000.

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    England
    There’s no mandatory landlord register in England, but some local councils require you to obtain a licence.

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    Northern Ireland
    All landlords in Northern Ireland are required to register. Failure to do so could lead to a fixed penalty of up to £500 or prosecution in court and a fine of up to £2,500.

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    Wales
    All landlords are legally required to be registered with Rent Smart Wales. Failure to do so could result in a fixed penalty notice of £150 or £250.

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  Get landlord insurance

  It’s your legal responsibility to insure the property you’re renting out, which you can do with Landlord Insurance. This will protect you against claims relating to your property for things such as damage caused by your tenants, storm damage, theft, accidental injuries, subsidence and more.

  You can also get additional cover, such as cover to re-house your tenants if your property becomes uninhabitable and their own insurance doesn’t already cover them. Cables and underground pipes cover can also be added.

Managing a property

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  Gas and Electrical safety checks

  It’s a legal requirement for landlords in the UK to carry out both a gas safety check and an electrical safety check atleast once a year on all rental properties.

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    What is a gas safety check?

    A gas safety check is important to make sure tenants are living in a safe property by identifying any potential hazards with:

    • Gas appliances (such as a gas cooker or oven)
    • Radiators
    • Boilers and central heating
    • Ventilation
    • Pipework and chimneys
    • Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
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    What is an electrical safety check?

    An electrical safety check is important to make sure the electrical appliances in the property are working properly and safely. It should check things like:

    • Wiring
    • Plug sockets
    • Light fittings

    • Switches
    • Protective bonding
    • Fuse box
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  Mould and Damp prevention and/treatment

  In the majority of cases, dealing with the prevention and treatment of damp and mould are a landlord’s responsibility under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. It notes that if structural reasons are causing damp/mould, or if a home survey finds rising or penetrative damp in your property, it’s your job to fix it.

  To learn more about your responsibilities in regard to damp and mould, check out this handy guide: Mould in rental properties: A guide for landlords.

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  General maintenance

  Landlords are responsible for making sure the rented property is fit for purpose at all times. This includes repairs and general maintenance on the property including:

  • The structure and interior
  • Any waterworks (e.g., sinks, bathtubs, showers, taps, toilets etc)
  • Access to heating and hot water (including pipes and central heating)
  • Gas appliances and ventilation
  • Electrics (including wiring, lighting and sockets)
  • Garden spaces (including fencing, garages, driveways etc)
  • White goods (fridges, washing machines, hobs etc)
  • Furnishing (if provided by yourself as part of the let)

  If anything on the above list gets damaged, needs replacing due to age, or is simply not up to standard, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to get it repaired or replaced in a timely manner.