As a landlord, no matter whether you have one property or a large portfolio, it’s important to keep on top of all the paperwork associated with owning buy to lets. Here are ten key pieces of documentation you should have up to date and to hand:
1. Energy Performance Certificate. Before a property can be marketed for rent, the landlord must be in possession of a valid EPC and the rating displayed on all advertisements. A copy of the certificate must be available for any prospective tenants to view and provided to the tenant.
2. Gas Safety Certificate. This certificate proves that the gas system in the property has been checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer within the last 12 months and determined to be in full working order. A copy of the certificate must be provided to the tenant and in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), it should be clearly displayed in a communal area.
3. Domestic Electrical Installation Certificate / Electrical Installation Condition Report. The certificate is issued when a system is installed or updated and the condition report when it’s tested. In an HMO, the electrics must be checked, legally, every five years; in a single let property, while there is no specific timescale for regular inspections, you are obliged to make sure the electrical system is safe. Electrical Safety First recommends inspections are carried out on change of tenancy or every five years, whichever comes first. There is no requirement to provide tenants with the paperwork, but it’s important for you to be able to prove when the last inspection took place, in case of any problems.
