New landlord-what checks do I need to do?

[BananaGio]

Am about to rent my property out to a new tenant. i am going to take work and previous landlord references. I know I need to get a gas and boiler check done. Is there anything else I need to do legally?
Thanks

Electrical inspection and I think now an energy certificate. all fabrics and furnishings (ie mattresses, sofas) need to comply to fire safety standards

Don't bother. Whatever you do they'll stuff and cheat you one way or another.

Ok, some tenants are okay. But oh dear lord the rest.

You don't need an electrical inspection. The electrical installation has to be safe but there is no requirement for any of it to be tested or certified.

Our current tenants have been in the flat for 18 months, always pay the rent on time, don't annoy the neighbours and are perfect tenants... or they've turned the flat into a pot farm

Hullygully don't say that! So have I got this right, from my googling I understand I need to get a gas safety check every 12 mths and an EPC check?

Yes. And an inordinately thick skin and frighteningly long temper. And wine.

any ideas re what to do with deposit? Heard that there is a certain account you need to put it in?? Am debating cracking open wine already

You need to put it with the DPS (deposit protection scheme), you can google it. There are others, but that's the govt one. I would suggest getting 6 weeks' deposit so they can't immediately stuff you by wandering off and saying keep the deposit (for the last month).

And unfurnished is much easier.

thanks again for all the advice. Wish me luck!

Worth joining RLA. Lots of advice, forums, forms to use, etc. Their helpline is worth the fee alone and it is staffed by real people.

I've been letting for over 7 years and have found the various tenants I've had to be hard-working, regular payers who want a nice roof over their head to call home for a few years. I've heard the horror stories but been lucky enough not to experience anything yet - had far more trouble when I was living there and renting out rooms (and when I used an agent who was CR*P )

From a tenant POV you need to be clear who looks after what around the property. EG gutters, gardens, drains.... and what is included in your rent eg any rates.

Our current letting is mostly clear but we could do with the gutters repaired (a couple of leaky points) and neither us nor the agent knows who should pay!

We had all the appliances that were already here tested before we moved in (there were green stickers all over the place!) and we have our gas checked every year (which we didn't in the old place!)

DanceInTheDark - an annual Gas Safety Check is the law and rightly so.

I rent my house out and am also a tenant. Whilst you don't have to have the electrics tested you do have to be sure they are safe. I had mine tested partly because I thought it was morally the right thing to do - I don't want to be responsible for my tenants frying and partly to cover myself.

You can also get insurance that pays out if your tenant doesn't pay, it's not very expensive about £100 a year I think.

You might also have to factor in agents fees and accountants fees as you have to pay tax on the profit.

Oh and you have to have permission from your mortgage company who may or may not charge you or raise your interest rate.

thanks for this. have got permission from mortgage company who stuck as extra % on with glee. Have got landlord insurance but not sure if that covers non payment? Is that a separate insurance you are talking about 1234? Am at not doing gas checks danceinthedark.
I am also a tenant and our last house we rented had faulty electrics (regular electric shocks from washing machine) and all sorts so would never want someone else to be living like that due to me!

Gas safety inspection
Electrical safety inspecton
smoke alarms
Energy reports
fire blanket
carbon monoxide detector
property condition report
deposit into the legal scheme in England (if that is where you are)

Yes, its a separate insurance - I looked into it as I got bad vibes from a prospective tenant.

You'll also have to have an inventory, which is used when it comes to returning the deposit, the tenant pays on the way in and the landlord on the way out.

Good luck - I don't want to tempt fate, but my tenants are lovely so it's not all bad.

and make sure your insurance covers mallicious damage by a tenant. If they trash the place and you don't have this additional cover you'll not be covered.

Standard insurance is very, very basic,.

Not all tenants are awful, OP. We rent, as do many of our friends, and we are responsible and frequently carry out maintenance that to be honest the landlord should probably be doing.

In 16 years of renting I have had only one landlord who I would describe as responsible and reasonably fair. Just to give the other side of the story!

Oh just thought of another thing, we've taken out a British Gas insurance plan that covers the boiler, heating & electrics. The tenants call them direct if there are any problems.