Information for Landlords

We've brought together information from various sources to help you along the journey to renting out your property in a legal, safe and straight forward way.

Before you consider renting out a property learn as much about property management as you can:

1. Consider joining an Accreditation Scheme
2. Keep yourself informed of changes in the sector by subscribing to the Landlords' Newsletter and attending Landlords Forums
3. Ensure your property is safe and meets current housing standards, including regulations covering fire safety and protection, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, gas and electrical safety standards, Legionella and furnishings (if provided)
4. Ensure you can comply with regulations regarding repairs
5. Obtain an Energy Performance Certificate and ensure your property meets the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.  Check if there are grants available to assist you to bring your property to the correct standard - see Simple Energy Advice in Useful Links for more details.
6. If the property will be shared by a number of unrelated people or households, check you will comply with Management Regulations for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
7. If the property is classed as a HMO, check whether you will require a licence
8. Speak to your mortgage lender - you may not be allowed to rent out your property without their permission
9. Check your house insurance policy
10. Check your tax obligation
11. Obtain references for your prospective tenants
12. Draw up a proper tenancy agreement
13. Ensure you issue your tenants with the correct documents at the start of the tenancy
14. Check the Right to Rent status of all adults who will be living in the property
15. Draw up an inventory of all the contents of the property
16. Protect the deposit properly using one of the government approved Tenancy Deposit Schemes - see link below.

Further information can be found on other pages within this section and in the Private Sector Housing Policy Framework which should be read in conjunction with the latest Housing Act Notice Charges document. 

Right to Rent

As you will be aware, before entering a tenancy agreement, landlords must check that their existing or prospective tenants can legally rent their property in England to avoid a civil penalty, which has been the case since 2015.

The immigration system is digitising - moving away from a system reliant on people proving their rights through physical documents that are sometimes decades old, to a streamlined system that is digital by default. As part of this, the Home Office are making some changes.

From 6 April 2022, the right to rent online checking service must be used for biometric residence card and permit (BRC/P) holders, as they will no longer be able to use their BRC/P for a manual right to rent check. Also from 6 April 2022, landlords will be able to use certified Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) service providers to carry out digital checks on behalf of British and Irish Citizens who hold a valid passport (or Irish passport card).

For further information, please see the Government website for landlords.