You have found the perfect tenant and are looking forward to getting them moved in. Have you made sure your property is tenant ready though? And have you ticked off all your legal compliance obligations?
Even if you are not a self managing landlord, we believe as a responsible landlord, its important to be aware of the importance of getting a new tenancy off one the right foot. As an ARLA Propertymark accredited lettings agency, we want to share our top tips to ensure a smooth move in and problem free tenancy start;
Do Your Property Checks
Preparing your property for renting is more than just ensuring that it has a fresh coat of paint. When the property is vacant its an excellent opportunity to do a thorough inspection. Check for potential issues such as slipped roof slates, leaking pipes, and faulty appliances to prevent any major issues in the future.
Once any repairs have been resolved, one of the most important tasks that you should do before a new tenant moves in is to clean the property thoroughly.
You want the property to be returned in the state that you handed it over, so it is essential to record the cleanliness of the property in your Inventory Report – with lots of photos!
Additionally, you must ensure before you rent your property out that you comply with these legal obligations:
- Smoke alarms must be fitted and tested on each floor
- Carbon monoxide detectors (if required) must be installed
- The Gas Safety Certificate must be valid
- The Electrical Installation Condition Report must be valid
- The Energy Performance Certificate must be valid
Get Your Documents Right
Your tenant has signed the Tenancy Agreement, but there are other documents to consider. On move in day we recommend you also provide your tenant with the information they require to live comfortably in the house. This could include instructions on how to use the appliances and details of bin collection days.
If you do conduct a check-in with the tenant you’ll also be able to physically point out how to use equipment such as an intruder alarm.
We also recommend your tenant signing a “Smoke Alarm Compliance Statement” to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities regarding smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Additionally, there are also the legal requirements you must action before a tenancy start. Have you provided your tenant with;
- How to Rent guide
- The signed Tenancy Agreement
- Energy Performance Certificate
Take Correct Deposit Action
You must register the deposit on a new tenancy within 30 days of receiving it from your tenant, through a government approved tenancy deposit scheme. There are 2 ways of doing this;
- A custodial scheme, where the deposit is paid to the scheme, who then keep it until the end of tenancy
- An insured scheme, where you as landlord keep the deposit but pay a premium to the scheme. This means that the deposit is insured for a fee.
The Prescribed Information must also be supplied to the tenant once the deposit is protected in a scheme. This must include your contact details, the deposit scheme details, the deposit protection certificate and information on how to apply for the return of the deposit at the end of tenancy.
There’s a lot to remember, especially with the paperwork, so working with a reputable agency who does all this for you is a great option for many landlords.
At Horizon Lets, our Lettings Manager Samantha says;
“Because there is more and more legislation to consider before a tenant can move in, we find that landlords are just so grateful that we take this over. Landlords need to know that they have ticked all the legal boxes and working with a good agency, like ourselves course, ensures this”
As a self-managing landlord, if you wish to set up a tenancy by yourself, just follow the above tips for a smooth move in!
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