It’s a scary thought; so knowledge is the key. Even if you have a letting agent managing your property, make sure that you are familiar with your legal responsibilities and you’ll be covered.
We have produced a legal checklist for you to go through to make sure you’re covered. Please note that HMO properties have their own legal requirements.
You can request a copy of the legal checklist by entering your details in the sign up box on the left.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)
Energy Performance Certificates are issued once a full energy assessment of your rental property has been completed by a qualified Energy Assessor.
Energy Performance Certificates are a legal requirement when letting a property to a tenant in England, Scotland or Wales and landlords have a duty to provide the tenant with a copy of the EPC or it will invalidate a Section 21 Notice (England).
You can search the EPC register here: https://www.epcregister.com/
Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)
Landlord Gas Safety Certificates (CP12) and inspections for rental properties are carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Landlords are required to hold a valid Gas Safety Certificate where a rental property has a gas supply to an appliance or the central heating is fired by gas. Gas Safety Regulations 1998 states that the Gas Safety Certificate is to be renewed every 12 months.
Fixed Wiring Test (EICR)
Periodic electrical safety inspection testing of rental properties fixed wiring circuits conducted by our nationwide network of electrical engineers.
Landlords letting property in the UK have a legal obligation to ensure that the property being let is safe to occupy. As such, ensuring the electrics in the property are not damaged or worn out, through wear and tear, is an important check to make every 5 years.
Portable Appliance Test (PAT)
Portable appliance testing (PAT test) carried out by an electrical engineers to ensure that a property’s electrical items are safe to use.
If you are letting a property in the UK, one of the most important legal obligations of a landlord is to ensure that the property being let is safe to occupy. As a result, Health and Safety regulations require that electrical appliances are safe and would not cause harm to any tenant using them.
Protect yourself from Property Fraud
Property fraud is where fraudsters try to “steal” your property, most commonly by pretending to be you and selling or mortgaging your property without your knowledge. Sign up to Property Alert with the Land Registry, this is a free service and you can choose up to 10 properties to monitor. It will notify you if anyone attempts to change the legal title or other activities.
Sign up to Property Alert here
Watch the 3-minute video below to find out more about how to protect your property from fraudsters.
Read more in our ‘Protecting yourself from property fraud article’
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