Every five years if it applies in your area, from £500. How do you prevent a tenant from kicking someone’s head in? You make his landlord get a licence. Nope, … Read More
Landlord law: Your quick guide to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
Every 10 years, £40–£85. So the tenants can see upfront if the heating will cost them a bomb, you are legally obliged to get an energy performance certificate (EPC). You … Read More
Landlord law: Your quick guide to gas safety certificates
Annually, £65–£125 Gas leaks can kill through carbon monoxide poisoning or explosions. That’s why, by law, you have to maintain gas pipework, flues and appliances in a safe condition. An … Read More
Landlord law: Your quick guide to electrical safety checks
Every five years, plus annual checks by you, £120–£200. You must ensure all the electrics are safe. So, at the start of every tenancy and annually: Visually check sockets, light … Read More
Landlord law: Your quick guide to fire safety
From £10, at the start of letting; every two to three years for blocks of flats. By law, all upholstered furniture, beds, mattresses and nursery furniture must have fire safety … Read More
Landlord law: Your quick guide to smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
At the start of each tenancy, £15–£25 per alarm. Since 2015 you are legally obliged to install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your rental property, and … Read More
Landlord law: Your quick guide to Legionella risks
Free. At the start of letting; whenever there are changes to your water installation. What, Legionella? Yup, you’ve got to do a risk assessment on that one, too, even if … Read More
Landlord law: The serious stuff you must do to keep tenants safe
Gas safety checks, electrical tests, smoke detectors… Before you roll your eyes at the miles of red tape landlords have to disentangle, here is why it’s necessary. A young couple, … Read More
What you need to know about the new energy efficiency laws for your rental property
This winter’s “beasts from the east” that covered London in up to 10cm of snow are over, but from this month new rules ban landlords from allowing tenants to shiver … Read More
Ten musts for your tenancy agreement
What an assured shorthand tenancy agreement means In almost all lets you’ll have an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, or AST, by law. That gives you and your tenant certain rights … Read More