All gas appliances must pass an annual safety check, carried our by a Gas Safe registered Enginer. You need to give the tenant a copy of the check when they move in or within 28 days of any check. Typically you could expect to pay around £55 for this service.

The property must have a valid EPC from an accreditor assessor. The minimum is a Band E (unless you have an exception certificate). Give a copy to the tenant, and one must be made available to any prospective tenant interested in renting your property. Typically you could expect to pay around £55 for this service.

You must have an EICR check done (at least every 5 years) and a copy must be given to your tenants. PAT testing should be carried our on any appliances if provided to ensure they are safe. Typically you could expect to pay around £120 for an EICR and £60 for a PAT test.

You must give the tenant an up-to-date copy of the guide available from the governments website. FYI, it get updated frequently, and courts will check which version should have been made available during at the tenancy start date!

You must comply with Fire Safety regulations and fit and test both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. You’ll need smoke alarms on each habitable floor of your property.

You must carry out Right to Rent checks on your potential tenant tenant and any adult who will be living with them, even if they are just a ‘permitted occupier’. You must store these documents but delete them 1 year after the tenancy has ended.

You must put any deposit into a government approved scheme to protect it and provide the tenant with the details (prescribed information). You are also legally obliged to provide your tenants with the prescribed information within. Typically custodial services are free to use, while insured based schemes have a cost of around £20.

Be aware that all letting agents need to carry out due diligence (CDD) checks on any new tenants and landlords. It is your agent’s responsibility to ensure that they ‘know their customer’. CDD must be carried out on both the tenant and landlord for any agency agreement with a monthly rent of £8,800 pcm (or equivalent amount or more).

The property must be free from serious hazards. Repair structural defects. Ensure sanitary fittings and drains are working. Check heating and hot water systems. Chimneys and ventilation.

If your property is an HMO you will need a license from the local authority. Some councils also use selective licensing in some areas. Check to see if you’re affected. We have great working relationships with local authorities in Manchester, Stockport, Salford, Trafford, Cheshire East and Tameside.