For some individuals, a buy to let business might be their entire livelihood. For others, it might have been something into which they have fallen almost by accident – a property they inherited or a home in which they no longer live – the so-called accidental landlord. (Please read our free The Accidental Landlord Guide if you are a new, accidental landlord).
Whether you are either of these, an immediately hands-on landlord or one who has put the day-to-day administration of managing tenancies in the hands of a letting agent, you owe a host of special obligations and responsibilities as a landlord.
You need to adhere to these obligations as a matter of law and, by so doing, ensure that the essential landlord insurance which is in place to protect your investment continues to be valid.
So, what are some of those obligations? Here is a brief overview, based on legislation as at the time of writing (January 2021). Please note that legislation can change, so do check with the relevant authority for confirmation. Rules may also vary depending on where in the United Kingdom your rental property is.
Health and safety
- your fundamental obligation is in providing accommodation in which it is safe for your tenants to live and which is free from any health hazards;
- in some areas of the country, these standards may be supported and enforced by what is known as selective licensing by local authorities. In that case, your property needs to be registered with and inspected by the local authority if it is to be let to tenants. To find out, you should check your local council website, as the rules vary from council to council;
- Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) – where several households share basic amenities such as bathrooms and toilets or kitchens – are especially subject to licensing requirements and with large HMOs there is a national requirement for them to be licensed;
- licences set out the particular and detailed obligations you have as a landlord, including your need to show that you are a “fit and proper” person – free of any convictions for housing offences or fraud, for example;
Gas safety
- amongst your specific health and safety obligations, protection of your tenants from injury or death through gas-related incidents is paramount;
- all landlords – whatever the type of let property or the nature of the buy to let business – must arrange an annual inspection of the gas supply, fittings and appliances by a registered Gas Safe engineer;
- a copy of the engineer’s safety certificate must be given to new tenants when they move in or to sitting tenants within at least 28 days of the inspection;
Electrical safety
- you also have a legal obligation for maintaining a safe electricity supply and appliances that are safe and in good working order;
- regulations require landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected at least every 5 years and tested by a person who is qualified and competent;
Fire safety
- in accordance with national and local fire regulations, you have an obligation to provide accessible fire escape routes and to ensure that they remain clear at all times;
- the law also requires that you fit smoke alarms on every floor of the let property and install carbon monoxide detectors in any room which has a solid-fuel (coal or wood-burning) fire;
- in some let property comprising flats and bedsits, a statutory Fire Safety Order and its associated inspections may be necessary, explains the Residential Landlords’ Association (RLA);
Please read our Landlord Legislation Guide and our Landlords Guide to Health & Safety for more in-depth information.
Right to Rent
- you also have an obligation (if your property is in England) to make the checks necessary to ensure that tenants and members of their household have a right to rent your property, in accordance with provisions of the Immigration Act;
Tenants’ deposits
- you have the right to ask your tenants for a deposit – as security against future breakages or damage caused by them, for example – but that money must be placed with an approved, independent third party, in compliance with the Tenancy Deposit Protection scheme;
Evictions
- you are obliged to give your tenants due written notice to quit your let property and it is illegal to harass or bring undue pressure on them to do so;
- you may not take possession of the property without a court order to that effect.
Becoming a landlord is a serious business – and that is true whether the buy to let property is your principal livelihood or whether you are simply an accidental landlord.
The same obligations and responsibilities attach to the role of landlord in any guise and there are legal sanctions to ensure that you comply.
This may also impact upon your landlord insurance. If you have knowingly or flagrantly ignored or breached your obligations, and subsequently make a claim for any loss or damage which follows, you may find that this may be rejected by your insurer or that your actions may have amounted to contributory negligence and the value of any settlement reduced accordingly.
