VITAL PAPERWORK

LANDLORDS are governed by more than 100 pieces of legislation, many of which relate to paperwork that must be in place at the beginning of a tenancy. Landlords need to give tenants the following documents:

A copy of the government’s ‘How to rent’ guide.

A copy of the deposit protection certificate.

An energy performance certificate. A gas safety certificate. Landlords must also arrange for a smoke alarm to be fitted on every storey of the property, and a carbon monoxide detector to be installed in any room where solid fuel is used.

In England, most landlords who let a house in multiple occupation – often known as an HMO – will need a licence from their local authority. About 70 councils in England also run additional or selective licensing schemes. Landlords can check with their local council as to whether they need a licence or check with the National Landlords Association at landlords.org.uk/nlalicensing-365. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all have compulsory landlord registration schemes in place.