What responsibilities do I have for my rental property in Milton Keynes?
As a landlord, it’s your job to keep your properties safe and free from health hazards. This includes ensuring the safe installation and maintenance of all gas and electrical equipment. You must provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the home. You are also responsible for any maintenance, repairs and refurbishments. If something needs to be attended to urgently (for example, a reported gas leak in the house) you will need to be on hand to deal with it immediately. If you can’t commit to being on hand for emergencies, make sure you enlist the help of a letting agent.
It’s also your responsibility to carry out regular fire safety checks and ensure that there are working carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in the relevant rooms. You need a carbon monoxide alarm in any room that both contains a fixed combustion appliance and is used as living accommodation. There must also be at least one smoke alarm on each storey of the home where there is a room used as living accommodation. If your rental property in Milton Keynes is furnished, all upholstered furniture on the premises must be fireproof.
In addition to taking care of these safety-related responsibilities, you have further admin-related responsibilities. You must ensure that your tenant has the right to rent and keep their deposit safe in a Tenancy Deposit Scheme that has been approved by the government. It’s also your job to provide a ‘how to rent’ checklist with tenants, which can be found on the gov.uk website.
How do I get my rental property in Milton Keynes ready for tenants?
First, you will need to choose whether you want to rent your house unfurnished or furnished. You may also want to consider:
- Removing anything from the property that is sentimental to you or fragile
- Check that all the appliances in the home are working properly
- Carry out any repairs on fixtures and fittings, if required
- Repaint the walls in neutral colours and ensure that nothing looks outdated.
If your property is in good condition, it will be quicker and easier to find tenants.
Should I find a letting agent for my rental property in Milton Keynes?
If you would like to rent out your property but you don’t have enough spare time to deal with the many responsibilities of being a landlord, it’s worth finding a letting agent.
Although you will have to factor in the costs charged by your letting agent, you will save a lot of time. Letting agents can help you with:
- Finding potential tenants through advertising
- Hosting viewings for prospective tenants
- Drawing up tenancy agreements
- Chasing rent payments if they are late
- Being the first point of contact for your tenant if there are any issues
Before agreeing to work with a letting agent, make sure you look into their fees and reviews.
Is there anything else I should consider before renting my house out?
- Before renting your house out, it’s a good idea to have your house deep cleaned by professionals. You should also have it cleaned every time you change tenants.
- It’s wise to create extra copies of window, door and utility meter keys to give to your tenants. This ensures that you always have keys too, in case the ones you give to tenants get lost.
- Collate any instruction manuals you have for appliances in the house – for example, the boiler or any white goods. Photocopy these and give them to your tenants as a welcome informational pack.
- Keep up to date on the laws relating to being a landlord. Check back regularly, so that you are aware of any law changes.
- If you would like to change the rent, keep in mind that there are laws around when you are allowed to do this. If you choose a rolling tenancy, the rent can be changed once per year. However, if your tenants are on a fixed-term tenancy, you are only allowed to change the rent at the end of the term.
Some final words…
Now you should have a better idea of how to prepare your rental property in Milton Keynes. If you have any questions or you’d like to look at your options for working with a letting agent, contact us today – we’d love to hear from you.
