Looking after landlords: Keeping compliant with residential lettings regulations
By Helen Everritt, Manager, Gro Residential Management
Landlords are legally responsible for ensuring their rented residential properties meet a wide range of safety standards – and for ensuring their tenants have all the required documents and information required by law to remain complaint and avoid potential fines and legal action.
And whilst most landlords are aware of typically being responsible for maintaining the property in a habitable condition, many find the ever-increasing regulations a minefield to oversee and manage, especially when overseeing a growing portfolio of properties.
That is why keeping our landlords compliant at all times is the number one priority for our team at Gro Residential Management – taking away a huge headache for our clients and giving them peace of mind that all is in hand.
We ensure a detailed compliance schedule is created for each and every landlord we represent – whether they have five or 500 properties - ensuring annual inspections are carried out, certifications are secured, and tenants are kept fully informed.
Importantly, our team is also always keeping abreast of changing legislation.
This ensures we can alert landlords to any forthcoming changes, which can sometimes mean extra investment, are planned for well in advance, ensuring property portfolios are always available to rent, and always able to generate maximum returns.
Safety standards and regulations we take control of as standard include;
- Gas Safety – Ensuring all gas appliances, fittings, and flues are safe for use. We will arrange annual gas safety checks, carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Electrical Testing - Electrical installations in rented properties must be inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years.
- Fire Safety – We will ensure properties have smoke alarms on each floor of the property where there is a habitable room, and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a solid fuel-burning appliance.
- Health and Safety – Our team will check all properties are free from health hazards and that sanitation and water supply are in good condition.
We will provide tenants with information including;
- A legally binding Tenancy Agreement – Ensuring it is legally sound and includes all necessary terms and conditions, outlining the rights and responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant.
- A Gas Safety Certificate - These must be provided within 28 days of a gas safety check being conducted or when a tenant moves into the property.
- Electrical installation condition report (EICR) – These must be provided to tenants, and the local housing authority can request a copy.
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) - Detailing the energy efficiency of the property.
- Information on rent payment - Details on how and when rent will be paid / collected, including the amount, frequency, and accepted methods of payment.
- Emergency contact information - Contact details for our 24-hour support service, so that we get contacted for emergency help and not landlords themselves.
Other matters we take care of for landlords include;
- Right to Rent Checks – Our team will check the immigration status of their tenants and ensure they have the right to rent in the UK.
- Tenant Screening – We will ensure fair and legal tenant screening practices, which may include obtaining consent for background checks and credit reports, avoiding discriminatory practices which could lead to disputes.
- Deposit Protection - We will ensure tenant deposits are protected in a Government-approved tenancy deposit scheme, as dictated by law.
- Insurance Requirements -Obtaining the necessary insurance coverage for the property, such as landlord insurance. This can protect against property damage, liability claims, and other risks.
At Gro Residential Management, we’ve previously taken over the management of property portfolios where there has been an immediate need of action to bring them within requirements.
Remember, safety certification breaches for residential rented properties in the UK can result in fines of up to £30,000 – so keeping compliant at all times should never be left to chance, and needs to be a priority.
If you are a landlord looking for experienced and professional management of your residential lettings portfolio, and for compliance support, contact us today on 01482 566057 or hello@gro-residential.co.uk
