Info for Landlords

It’s important to stay up to date with the ever changing rental market. Our team is kept abreast of all the last developments and changes through regular training and will offer you the best of their expertise

Safety

If your property comes with furnishings, it is a legal requirement that soft furnishings comply with the Soft Furnishing Act. A fire safety label must be attached to all items of furnishing.

Where possible, we recommend that you provide the tenant with a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher as prevention is always a wise move should the need arise.

In 2015 “THE SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2015”, state: “each rented property must have a working smoke alarm on each floor before a tenant moves in”.

Energy Performance

Rental property must have an Energy Performance Certificate before being marketed, showing prospective tenants the EPC rating. We work alongside accessors who can carry out an energy performance check on your behalf. Your rental property must soon meet a C rating before it can be let out.

Gas Safety and Servicing

Landlords are required to ensure all gas fittings and flues are maintained in a safe condition. Each year an annual safety check must be carried out on each gas appliance/flue. Once a safety check is done, the Gas Safe engineer will issue you with a Landlord Gas Safety record detailing whether the appliance is safe to use, it will also document any observations or recommendations. A carbon monoxide detector must be fitted in rooms that have a combustible appliance.

In accordance with the appliances manufacturer’s instructions, you may be required to service each appliance at least once every 12-months. If these are not available, it is recommended that they are serviced annually unless advised otherwise by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Electric Certification

You must have an up-to-date safety check carried out at your property by a qualified electrician, who will provide you with an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) at an interval of at least every 5-years. This report will determine the safety of the electrical installation at the property.

Portable Appliance Testing

Any electrical appliance that you provide must be safe for the tenant to use and must be checked and tested at least every 12-months. A PAT certificate will confirm the safety of the appliance to demonstrate the appliance is safe to use by the tenant.

Legionella Testing

It is a legal responsibility for landlords to assess the health risks in rental property and take action where necessary to minimise that risk, keeping their tenants safe. A Legionella test will determine if there is a risk and will advise on ways to better manage the prevention of the disease before and during the tenancy.

Insurance and Rent Guarantee

It is important to have the right type of cover for your property as a normal insurance policy will differ from a landlord insurance policy. A landlord policy will cover your buildings and contents whilst your property is tenanted.

Many landlords enjoy the peace of mind knowing they have additional cover in legal protection and rent guarantee policies especially if they need to make a claim.

We have access to insurance brokers that will provide you with competitive quotes covering all aspects .

Deposits

Our services are designed to protect the deposit of a tenant entering into an Assured Shorthold Tenancy and to treat them fairly when returning it at the end of the tenancy. When we hold a deposit, we will protect it by registering it with an approved deposit protection scheme. Landlords that choose to hold the deposit themselves must protect the deposit within 30 days of receiving it and issue the tenant with prescribed information. If there is a disagreement at the end of the tenancy an impartial adjudicator will decide how the deposit should be divided based on the evidence presented.

Selective Licensing

Selective licensing in designated areas of Birmingham aims to improve the standards of private rented property through several processes. We have helped many landlords meet the requirements. Landlords that fail to comply will incur a substantial fine.

Houses Of Multiple Occupation(HMO)

The rules for HMOs have changed in Birmingham and your property has to be compliant if the changes are relevant to your property. Contact our offices for further information and guidance.