*This is a collaborative post.
Whether you bought a property purely to rent it out to tenants, or you have a property that is now vacant for other reasons and want to fill it, you still have a lot to do before you become a landlord. To ensure your property is legal and safe for tenants to live in, not only do you need to provide some basic knowledge, but you also need to test and evaluate different aspects of your property that can be dangerous. Before you can put your property on the rental market and find the right tenant to move in, you need to do a few things. Some are required by law, while others are simply recommended by experts to help your property stand out and attract tenants faster.
EICR
If your property does not have a recent property, then you will need to obtain an EICR. There are different types, including commercial EICR/fixed wire testing for commercial premises. For rental property purposes, you will need a domestic EICR or Electrical Installation Status Report. Domestic EICR report for you In-depth reports on the condition and safety of electrical components in the building, as well as further information on any repairs that need to be made or hazards that should be addressed immediately. It also provides more information on electrical system efficiency and how it can be improved. Contact a good electrician for answers to general EICR inquiries. Legally, you should do it every five years.
Gas Safety Inspection
If the property you are renting out has gas central heating then you will need to Gas Safety Inspection On boilers and other gas appliances (such as gas cooktops, stoves or stoves) on the property. This needs to be done annually by a licensed gas safety engineer. This is a legal requirement for all rental properties, so you should ensure this inspection is kept up to date or you may be liable to pay compensation to your tenant.
carbon monoxide alarm
Another thing you need to do if your rental property has a gas central heating system or other gas appliances that provide a carbon monoxide alarm. This will alert tenants if there are any dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (a colorless, odorless gas) leaking from an appliance. Carbon monoxide alarms can be purchased for nominal amounts from most good DIY stores or online, and are usually battery powered.
Smoke detector
You also need to legally Provide smoke alarms On every floor of the property you rent to tenants. You can have the fire brigade install these, or have a local fitter do it for you. Most landlords generally prefer hard-wired smoke alarms because there is no risk of the battery dying and the tenant not replacing the battery. Remember, smoke alarms not only protect your tenants in the event of a fire on your property, but they can also make the difference between minor and substantial damage to your home in the event of a fire.
fire safety equipment
While it is not a legal requirement to provide it, you may want to consider purchasing some fire safety equipment for your rental property. In the event of a fire, the tenant needs to be able to put it out safely, which is very convenient. For example, you may want to provide tenants with access to fire extinguishers and fire blankets somewhere on the property; most often these will be located in the kitchen, as this is where many fires start.
furnishing
How much furniture and furnishings you provide is up to you. If you plan to rent out the property as a furnished property, you will need to provide at least the basics. Tenants will typically expect white goods, sofas, beds, wardrobes, and some other basic furniture and furnishings in a furnished property, such as curtains and light shades. You might even want to go a step further and offer things like TVs. However, you are not legally required to provide any furniture in the rental property. Many landlords prefer to provide their own ovens and stoves, as this can be tested, rather than having tenants supply them themselves. However, for long-term rentals it is better to opt for an unfurnished one as this gives the tenant more opportunities to make the house their own. Consider adding some basics, like curtain rails on windows.
Fashion sense
Before renting it out to tenants, it’s worth taking the time to repaint the property, especially if it hasn’t seen brushes and rollers in a while. Some landlords are happy to allow tenants to decorate the property to their taste during their stay, while others ask them not to. This of course depends on how long you want your tenants to be there and your relationship with them. For example, you might want to consider letting them decorate themselves after they’ve lived in for a year. For new tenants, it’s best to decorate in neutral colors, so tenants can easily match their furniture and other decorative items.
Security check
Before putting your property on the market, it is a good idea to conduct a basic security inspection of the home. Check for anything that could be a hazard, such as loose floors or steps, and fix or replace it as soon as possible. Check that all infrastructure is in place, such as making sure all light bulbs and faucets are working properly. Make sure there are no potential electrical hazards, such as light switches or plug sockets that come loose from the wall.
Basic Information
Finally, you should provide the new tenant with some basic information. In addition to a copy of their lease agreement and an itinerary of the property, you’ll need to legally provide them with a “how to lease” brochure and the property’s energy efficiency rating when they first move in. You can go a step further than that if you want your tenants to feel welcome in the new area, especially if you know they’re moving in from further afield. For example, information such as when the wheeled bins are collected will be very useful to tenants and will help them settle in more easily, as well as contact information for local services and merchants they may need in the first few days. Consider any information they might find useful, such as information on where to find the nearest supermarket, hospital, etc.
Whether you have purchased an investment property or are planning to rent out an older home to tenants, there are a few things you should do before putting your property on the market.
