Landlord/Tennant issues

[shouldIgetinvolved1]

A relative of mine is renting out their property. I was chatting to them the other day and have discovered something I am not sure what to do about it.

Firstly they don't have landlord insurance, I am not sure if this is important, they own the house outright
And secondly the deposit isn't protected.

Their son was sorting the property for them and I was under the impression that the son was managing it for them, but this doesn't seem to be happening. I also know, I (and other people) told them to make sure to get the deposit in the scheme, I told both my relative and their son.

Can they do this retrospectively and also if they don't get it protected what does this mean? I remember when I rented my property, I got a letter from someone (this was a few years ago) with a number, which I still have.

Thank you for any help

The LL needs to protect the deposit, otherwise they can be fined 3 x the deposit amount plus the original deposit itself. They will also not be able to serve a Section 21 Notice to regain possession of the property.

The LL should reserve the prescribed information (gives details of the deposit) on the tenants when they have protected the deposit and provide the tenants with a copy of the certificate which they will receive once the deposit has been protected.

The LL doesn't have to insure the property legally. It is usually stated in the tenancy agreement that it is the tenant's responsibility to insure contents, but the LL can take their chances with buildings insurance - I wouldn't advise it though. I know some very large property portfolio owners who don't insure because they weigh up the cost of the premium against the cost of paying out for rebuilding/repair work, but we're talking hundreds of properties so this would be unusual.

If you have any concerns about private rentals take this to your local council private rental department.

Hopefully they have the legally required gas certificate

but we're talking hundreds of properties so this would be unusual.

They only have the one, which is why I was so surprised

Hopefully they have the legally required gas certificate

Christ I didn't even think of this.

Landlord insurance is different from buildings insurance.

They had best take some proper advice as to their legal obligations as a landlord.

6 months imprisonment £6000 or possible man slaughter charges is any dies - which has happened

They had best take some proper advice as to their legal obligations as a landlord.

I have advised them to do this, but the response was very much but my son is sorting it all out for me. I am reasonably certain the tennants have been in the house for about 6 months (could be less) so whatever he is doing is sweet FA

6 months imprisonment £6000 or possible man slaughter charges is any dies - which has happened

I will double check and see if they have this. Hopefully she does but at the moment nothing is certain.

I am also in the world of not my monkey, not my circus and I can just give the facts again and thats that, tbh I don't even know if anything I say is going to fall on deaf ears.

As the homeowner, I am assuming that regardless of who she thinks is managing the property any shit storm that happens is going to fall on her?