Landlord responsibilities

As a landlord you must:

• Keep your rented properties safe and free from health hazards
• Make sure all gas and electrical equipment is safely installed and maintained
• Provide an Energy Performance Certificate for the property
• Protect your tenant’s deposit in a government-approved scheme
• Check your tenant has the right to rent your property if it’s in England
• Give your tenant a copy of the how to rent checklist when they start renting from you (you can email it to them)

As a landlord you are responsible to ensure you have a licence if your property requires one. Currently, licences are required for houses in multiple occupation (HMO). Find out more about landlord licences.

Health and safety inspections

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is used by us to make sure that properties are safe for the people who live there. This involves inspecting your property for possible hazards, eg uneven stairs. If you own a property and rent it out, the council may decide to do an HHSRS inspection because:

• Your tenants have asked for an inspection
• We have done a survey of local properties and think your property might be hazardous

You must take action on enforcement notices. You also have the right to appeal enforcement notices.

If we find a serious hazard we may:

• Issue an improvement notice
• Fix the hazard and bill you for the cost
• Stop you or anyone else from using part or all of the property

Fire, gas and electrical safety

• Fire safety guidance
• Find qualified electricians
• Find Gas Safe registered engineers

Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Regulations

The MEES Regulations set a minimum energy efficiency level for domestic private rented properties. Landlords cannot let or continue to let properties covered by the MEES Regulations if they have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating below E, unless they have a valid exemption in place.

It is unlawful for a landlord or agent to rent out a domestic property with an EPC rating of F or G, unless they have a valid exemption in place.

• If you are currently planning to let a property with an EPC rating of F or G, you need to improve the property’s rating to E, or register an exemption, before you enter into a new tenancy
• If you are currently letting a property with an EPC rating of F or G, and you haven’t already taken action, you must improve the property’s rating to E immediately, or register an exemption. We may impose a financial penalty for non compliance with the regulations

On GOV.UK you can register for an exemption and read guidance about complying with MEES.

Find an Energy Performance Certificate

Visit GOV.UK to find an Energy Performance Certificate for a property.

Financial responsibilities

You have to pay:

• Income Tax on your rental income, minus your day-to-day running expenses
• Class 2 National Insurance if the work you do renting out property counts as running a business

If you have a mortgage on the property you want to rent out, you must get permission from your mortgage lender.

Regulated tenancies

There are special rules for changing rents and terms for regulated tenancies (usually private tenancies starting before 15 January 1989).

Checking the immigration status of tenants

From February 2016, if you let private rented accommodation to a new tenant, you must check that their immigration status is lawful before allowing them to rent the property.  You may face a fine if you don’t comply.