The landlord guide

1 · The compliance baseline

Before a tenant moves in you need, at minimum: a gas safety certificate (annually), an electrical installation condition report (every five years), an EPC rated E or better, smoke alarms on every floor, CO alarms where required, right-to-rent checks, and deposit protection within 30 days with the prescribed information served. Miss one and Section 21 may be unusable and penalties apply.

• Gas safety (CP12) — annual
• EICR — five-yearly
• EPC rating E or better
• Deposit protected within 30 days
• Smoke & CO alarms compliant

2 · Price for occupancy

An empty month costs more than a modest discount. We price to let quickly to good tenants, then build from there at renewal. The best yield strategy is boring: good tenants, market rent, minimal voids.

3 · Referencing is non-negotiable

Income (typically 30× monthly rent annually), credit history, previous landlord reference and right-to-rent. A guarantor (36× monthly rent) bridges marginal cases. Two weeks of patience here prevents two years of problems.

4 · Decide your involvement honestly

Self-managing suits landlords who live nearby, know the rules and like the phone. Full management suits everyone else. Be honest about which you are — the 3am boiler call does not care about good intentions.