HOW TO LET
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1. Assured shorthold tenancy Key legal responsibilities This guide will help you to understand your key legal responsibilities as a landlord. This includes: £ ensuring the property is fit for human habitation and free from hazards at the beginning of the tenancy and throughout £ abiding by the provisions in the Tenant Fees Act 2019 which bans charging unfair fees to tenants in connection with a tenancy and caps tenancy – and holding – deposits £ protecting tenancy deposits in a government-approved scheme £ providing your tenants with a copy of the “How to rent: the checklist for renting in England” (How to rent guide) £ providing the tenant with your name and with an address in England or Wales which the tenant can use to serve notices upon you £ keeping the property in a good state of repair £ carrying out gas safety checks and giving a copy of the certificate to the tenant(s) before the start of the tenancy £ obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), if required, and giving a copy to the tenant at the earliest opportunity. EPCs must show a minimum rating of no lower than E is met £ ensuring electrical installations and appliances are safe £ installing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms £ make sure that your tenant has the correct contact details for you or your agent, including a telephone number they can use in case of an emergency. Under section 48 Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, you are required to provide your tenant with your name and with an address (which must be in England or Wales) where they can serve any notices on you. The rent due under the tenancy agreement will not be ‘lawfully due’ until you have done so.
