The government has published useful advice to landlords about renting out properties. It includes the following matters:
- What an assured shorthold tenancy is
- Things to think about before letting a property
- Redress schemes
- Rules relating to letting agents
- Rules around deposits
- Providing a gas safety certificate (if relevant), and requirements for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Providing an energy performance certificate
- ‘Right to rent’ checks
- Rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants during the tenancy
The guide is for current private residential landlords and anyone interested in letting a property in the private rented sector.
If you're thinking of renting out a property, take a look at our Lets4U scheme for landlords.
Regulatory standards in rented property
Landlords have a responsibility to ensure that properties that they let out are safe and in a good state of repair. These are the key issues that landlords need to be aware of, but it is not intended to be a definitive list of all required standards.
- The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 requires landlords must ensure that their property, including any common parts of the building, is fit for human habitation at the beginning of the tenancy and throughout.
- The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is a national standard published by the Government for identifying hazards in homes.
- Private sector landlords are required to have at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their properties and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance (e.g. a coal fire, wood burning stove). After that, the landlord must make sure the alarms are in working order at the start of each new tenancy.
- The Government has introduced a new minimum standard for energy efficiency in rented properties. From 1 April 2018, properties must have a minimum standard of EPC band E for new tenancies and renewals.