As a landlord in London, you have responsibilities for property maintenance and health and safety. You also have rights that cover late rent payments and evictions.
Before starting a new tenancy on your rental property in London, there are certain responsibilities a landlord has. These include checking a tenant’s documentation correctly and ensuring that both the landlord and the tenant are in agreement with the lease terms. You should also check your rights in certain situations such as increasing rent, covering repairs and evicting tenants. Knowing this upfront will make the landlord experience run more smoothly.
In this guide, we share all the rights and responsibilities of a landlord in London.
What Are My Basic Responsibilities As A London Landlord?
Renting out a London property is not just a case of owning a property and renting it to reliable tenants. There are various legal responsibilities that come with it. With laws and regulations constantly changing, it is important to stay up to date.
Key responsibilities of a landlord include making sure that tenants:
- Have the correct documentation and are entitled to reside in the UK
- Can live in the property undisturbed
- Have a copy of the property’s Energy Performance Certificate
- Are not subject to unfair eviction or excessive charges
- Receive their deposit back in full at the end of the tenancy (apart from dispute cases)
- Live in a property that is in a good state of repair and which adheres to health and safety requirements
Landlord Health and Safety Responsibilities
One of the key responsibilities as a landlord is to ensure that your property is safe for use. There are a few aspects to this:
Gas Safety
As a landlord you need to make sure that
- Gas equipment is appropriately installed and maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Annual gas safety checks are carried out by a registered engineer on each appliance and flue
- You give a copy of the gas safety check record to the tenants before they move in, or within 28 days of the safety check
Electrical Safety
Landlords need to ensure that:
- All electrical appliances supplied by them are safe (e.g. kettles and cookers)
- The electrical system, such as light fittings and sockets, is safe
Fire Safety
Landlords must:
- Provide smoke alarms on each floor of the house
- Provide a carbon monoxide alarm in any room that has a solid fuel burning appliance
- Follow all fire safety regulations
- Check that escape routes are accessible at all times
- Make sure that any furniture or furnishings supplied by them are fire safe
- Provide fire alarms and extinguishers for properties in a large house in multiple occupation
When it comes to health and safety, there can be a lot to think about and legislation is constantly changing.
To seek professional advice around landlord responsibilities, contact the team at J Property Management at info@jpropertymanagement.co.uk
What Are Your Rights As a Landlord?
As a landlord, you should know your legal rights to avoid costly legal issues or any disputes.
Here are key landlord rights to be aware of:
- Landlords can access the property for inspections or to make repairs as long as you give 24 hours’ notice
- Rent must be paid on time even if repairs are needed
- Landlords must receive any other agreed charges, such as Council Tax and bills, on time
- Tenants must look after the property and be proactive in preventing damage
- Tenants must repair or pay for any damage that they have caused due to misuse
- Subletting the property without a landlord permission is strictly prohibited
Is It A Landlord Responsibility To Deal With Repairs?
In most cases, it is the landlord’s responsibility to cover repairs on the property – both outside and inside. This could include things like:
- Plumbing including basins, sinks, baths, pipes and drains
- Heating and hot water
- Gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation
- Electrical wiring
- Fixtures and fittings
- Property exterior and structure
- Maintenance of the communal areas
This should all be laid out upfront in the tenancy agreement.
If carrying out repairs, landlords should always let the tenants know in advance.
In the event of a tenant causing damage to another tenant’s flat (e.g. an overflowing bath leading to a leak in a neighbour’s house), the tenant is responsible for paying for any repairs. The tenant will also be responsible for fixing and paying for damages caused by them or their guests.
Tenants should be proactive in letting the landlord know if any repairs need to be made so that the problem isn’t left to become worse. This is especially important for issues such as problems with electrical wiring or mould. Clear communication from the start and setting out terms in the tenancy agreement can make sure that any issues are highlighted as soon as possible.
If it is the landlord’s responsibility to carry out repairs and it is not done, tenants can contact the local council and take action against the landlord.
Are Landlords Allowed To Increase Rent?
With a fixed-term tenancy agreement, the price of the rent is usually only reviewed at the end of the term. However, in some cases it can be reviewed before then if the tenant agrees.
For period tenancies, which run on a weekly or monthly basis, landlords can only increase the year once a year without tenant agreement.
Before making any changes to the rent, the landlord must give at least one month’s notice and follow any steps laid out in the tenancy agreements.
Any increases made must be realistic and fair. If you don’t know what is a fair price, you can use our free online rent valuation tool. We compare market prices to set a price that is profitable for landlords as well as realistic for tenants.
Knowing Your Rights and Regulations As A Landlord
Being a landlord is a big responsibility. It is your duty to make sure that the property, or properties, that you are renting out is in fit condition for tenants. While there are various tenant obligations, such as paying rent on time and looking after the property, landlords also need to run regular health and safety checks and keep up with repairs.
There is a lot to consider as a landlord. Working with a property management company ensures that everything runs smoothly and that the landlord is legally protected.
To seek professional advice around landlord responsibilities, contact the team at J Property Management at info@jpropertymanagement.co.uk
