Landlord Checklist

STEPS TO BE TAKEN BEFORE THE TENANCY BEGINS

Please tick when completed:-

  • There is an EPC on the property with a minimum rating of E
  • Proof of Ownership – Certificate of Title showing the owners of the property
  • Landlords – Proof of ID – passport or driving licence
  • Landlords – Proof of Address – bank statement or utility bill dated within last 3 months
  • If the property is mortgaged – proof of Buy to Let Mortgage or Letter of Consent
  • Safety Certificates
  • Electrical Installation Condition Report
  • Landlord Gas Safety Checklist
  • Oil Boiler Certificate
  • Legionella Risk Assessment
  • Chimney Certificate
  • PAT Test for electrical appliances
  • Carbon Monoxide Alarm(s) and Smoke Alarms – Check that working smoke alarms are present on each floor and that working carbon monoxide alarms are in each room with a solid fuel appliance, working and fitted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Contact your insurer (buildings and contents) for details of their requirements.
  • Furnishings – any furniture left must comply with fire safety regulations – See over for summary
  • Notify us of any safety issues or repairs necessary relating to the property
  • Check that all or any disrepair at the property is attended to prior to the start of the tenancy.
  • Garden Think about what level of work needs to be done in the garden – is this reasonable for a tenant or should you think about contracting some form of gardening service?
  • Arrange for three sets of keys to be given to us, one for us to keep and two for the new tenants.
  • If you are moving overseas apply for an approval certificate to enable us to pay rent to you without any deduction of tax.
  • Landlord Property Information Questionnaire – to complete and return to ourselves
  • Gas & Electric Pre-payment meters – ensure that there is a small amount of credit on the meter (say £10 and there is no no debt owed on the meter)
  • Oil – ensure that there is sufficient oil in the tank at the start of the tenancy

FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS (FIRE SAFETY) REGULATIONS 1988

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989, 1993 and 2010) are UK law and are designed to ensure that upholstery components and composites used for furniture supplied in the UK meet specified ignition resistance levels and are suitable labelled. There are six main elements contained within the Regulations:

  1. Filling materials must meet specified ignition requirements
  2. Upholstery composites must be cigarette resistant
  3. Covers must be match resistant (with certain exceptions as outlined in Section 8.2 and Appendix A5)
  4. A permanent label must be fitted to every item of new furniture (with the exception of mattresses and bed-bases)
  5. A display label must be fitted to every item of new furniture at the point of sale (with the exception of mattresses, bed-bases, pillows, scatter cushions, seat pads, loose covers sold separately from the furniture and stretch covers)
  6. The first supplier of domestic upholstered furniture in the UK must maintain records for five years to prove compliance. The requirements regarding testing and labelling of items are detailed in Schedules 1-7 of the Regulations. Schedules 1-5 provide detailed information regarding the testing requirements for foam and non-foam fillings, composites, interliners and covers. Schedules 6-7 provide detailed information regarding the display and permanent labelling of the final item.

EPC REGULATIONS

When you need to take action to improve your property to EPC E

Since 1 April 2020, landlords can no longer let or continue to let properties covered by the MEES Regulations if they have an EPC rating below E, unless they have a valid exemption in place.

If you are currently planning to let a property with an EPC rating of F or G, you need to improve the property’s rating to E, or register an exemption, before you enter into a new tenancy.

If you are currently letting a property with an EPC rating of F or G, and you haven’t already taken action, you must improve the property’s rating to E immediately, or register an exemption.

If your property is currently empty, and you are not planning to let it, you don’t need to take any action to improve its rating until you decide to let it again.