Forest Hill Landlords – Know Your Responsibilities

As a landlord in Forest Hill, you know you have many responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities are grounded in common sense, while many of them are new. Landlords have had to deal with a lot of new duties in recent times, and it natural if you feel slightly overwhelmed with the requirements of the role.

If you are a Forest Hill landlord, we are here to help you know your responsibilities and to comply with them.

Provide your tenants with relevant information

Your responsibilities to your tenant begin before the tenancy does. Before a tenant moving into your rental accommodation, they should be provided with the latest version of the How To Rent guide. Tenants should also receive a copy of the rental property’s Energy Performance Certificate (an EPC) and a Gas Safety Certificate.

A failure to so means a landlord fails in their responsibility, and this may cause problems later if the landlord tries to evict the tenant.

Landlords should provide the tenant with deposit protection documentation, as well as guidance on how tenant’s data is handled. While there is no legal requirement to provide a written agreement to the tenant, you place yourself at risk if you don’t provide one before the tenant moving into the rental property.

Check the tenant’s right to rent

Landlords are required, under the Immigration Act 2014, to ensure tenants have a right to live in the UK before they let property. These tests are referred to as the ‘Right To Rent’ check.

Landlords are responsible for maintenance, repair work and maintaining good health in the property

Landlords are duty bound to ensure the property’s structure, both inside and out, is kept in good condition. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act, introduced in March of 2019, and it’s vital landlords adhere to the expected standards. Tenants have the right to sue landlords where the rental property doesn’t meet expected standards.

Landlords are also required to:

·        Protect deposits in a Government-backed scheme, within 30 days of receiving the payment

·        Provide tenants with information about the deposit scheme

·        State rent obligations in the tenancy agreement

·        Hold specialist letting insurance

While there is a lot for landlords to do, and remember, hopefully, you will not find the process of being a landlord too arduous. We are pleased to say we have helped many landlords in and around Forest Hill, and we believe this is an attractive area to operate in the buy to let market. Whether you are looking to buy property to let, or you require guidance on letting rental property, we are here to assist you.

At Hunters Forest Hill, we know letting your home is hard, but we are here to assist you in the process. If you aim to buy, sell, let your home or rental property, we are active in New Cross, Peckham, Dulwich and Brockley, in addition to Forest Hill, so get in touch with one of the top three agents in London, and we will be happy to assist you.

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