Understand the legislation that applies to you as a landlord
Anti-Money Laundering
Standard checks performed to confirm the identity and authenticity of any funds involved in a transaction.
AML is a legal requirement for all estate agents, with HMRC targeting any criminal activity in the property sector. Every time you market a property with an estate agent you’ll need to provide a valid photo ID and a recent utility bill.
We will perform these same checks on your prospective tenants.
Energy Performance Certificate
An EPC is a compulsory review of how energy efficient a property is. It is a legal requirement for landlords to have a valid EPC in place with a minimum band E rating before the property is advertised for let.
An EPC measures the energy efficiency of a property using a scale of A-G and is valid for 10 years. Legislation specific to lettings requires properties let on a new tenancy, or renewed on a fixed term, to have an EPC rating of band A-E. It is not legal to let a property on an EPC rating of band F or G – from April 2020 all existing tenancies must meet the minimum band E rating too. There are exemptions for certain properties and these have to be registered on the Government’s exemptions register which can be found here.
Licensing
London property licensing varies from borough to borough, making it tricky to keep up with changing legislation in different parts of the city.
As a landlord with Foxtons, we will keep you informed about all licensing requirements where you have rental properties and can also assist with your license application from start to finish.
Gas Safety Certificates
A compulsory test proving that gas appliances and supply points in the property are safe.
GSCs must be renewed every 12 months by a registered engineer who will check the flue and appliance. Even if we don’t manage your rental portfolio, we can assist you with arranging these checks.
Also, remember to give your tenants a copy of the new GSC within 28 days of the check.
PAT & EICR
The Portable Appliance Test (PAT) ensures all portable electrical appliances in your property are tested and approved as safe to use.
The resulting PAT certificate documents the safety testing of portable electrical appliances e.g. fridge/freezer, washing machine, toaster etc.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) assesses the safety of the existing electrical installation within a property and describes its condition. The assessment will cover consumer units (fuse boards), protective bonding, lighting, switches, sockets etc.
From 1st July 2020 all new tenancies (including renewals) will need an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) with a rating of ‘satisfactory’. All existing tenancies will need a valid EICR with a rating of ‘satisfactory’ from 1st April 2021.
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms
All rental properties must have a smoke alarm fitted on each floor.
We also advise fitting a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a boiler, even though this is not a legal requirement unless there is a solid fuel-burning appliance in the room.
When new tenants move into your property you should document that alarms have batteries fitted and are in good working order. Fire safety regulations are being tightened regularly as the government pushes for higher standards across the rental sector.
Legionnaires’ Disease
A form of pneumonia that is caused by inhalation of droplets of water containing the Legionella bacteria.
While uncommon, it is the responsibility of all landlords to assess their properties for risk.
A very simple initial assessment will show if water systems in your properties are at risk. Most normal domestic systems are considered low-risk due to the regular usage and flow of water, limiting standing water.
Contact us for advice on minimising risks and how to arrange an assessment.
Clean and Check-in
Rental properties must be clean when a tenant moves in, and a check-in records the state of the property at the time.
This makes both the move-in and move-out process run smoothly and minimises disagreements and delays when claiming for cleaning or damages at the end of a tenancy.
We advise a professional clean before the move-in date and an independent inventory at check-in to record the exact condition of all spaces inside and outside the property.
Right to Rent
It is a legal requirement to thoroughly check a tenant’s right to rent a property in the UK.
All prospective tenants over 18 years of age must be checked.
We have technology that enables us to quickly check an tenant’s eligibility but it’s also important that either you or your agent meets the tenant in person before keys to the property are released.