Helpful advice for UK landlords: 6 things you should know

Whether you’re considering becoming a landlord in the UK or already are one, it can be challenging to keep track of all the moving parts of managing your property, legal requirements, landlord duties, and tenants. Like any job, UK landlords have a lot of tasks to take care of and need to uphold their responsibilities.

Contrary to what some might think. Becoming a UK landlord isn’t as simple as securing tenants, carrying out a few odd maintenance jobs, and watching their rent pop into your bank account every month. So to help you fulfil your landlord duties, we’ve put together some helpful advice, explaining the top six things every UK landlord should know.

What UK landlords need to know – our key advice

1 .Sort out your insurance

While landlord insurance isn’t a legal requirement, we highly advise you to cover yourself should any issues arise with your rental property. You can get insurance for all aspects of renting out your property, like rent guarantees, the property itself and its contents, and outdoor fixtures like gates and fences. Landlord insurance will protect you if your tenants or unforeseen issues cause damage to your property or your tenants don’t pay their rent.

2. Run thorough tenant checks

Before you sign a rental agreement with a new tenant, you should screen them to ensure they are who they say they are and have the means to afford your monthly rent. Ask them for landlord, employer, and even character references along with proof of their legal right to rent in the UK by checking their passport or verifying their immigration status.

3. Create a strong rental agreement

A rock solid rental agreement will help protect you from any legal liabilities should your tenant not uphold their end of the bargain. So, what should you include in your rental agreement? Follow our checklist below to make sure you have everything in order for a smooth lease process:

Describe how you’ll handle the security deposit Establish responsibilities for maintenance issues Communicate tenancy rules (no pets, no smoking, etc.) Include tenant and landlord contact information Describe notice periods and terms Agree on proposed move-in dates and lease length Outline rent payment information and cadence Take inventory of the property’s contents

4. Inspect the property

Before handing over the keys to your new tenants, it’s good to conduct a thorough inspection of the property. Make sure the property is spotlessly clean, free from clutter, and that all appliances are in perfect working condition. Not only is this simply the right thing to do, but it also reduces the risk of an argument over your deposit down the line if your tenants cause any damage.

5. Check-in with your tenants

Not every landlord checks in with their tenants, but if you want our advice – it’s vital. Checking in with your tenants regularly builds a positive relationship with them and helps you identify minor problems before they become significant issues (like a small crack in the roof that leads to a collapse without repair). Remember to give your tenants as much notice as possible and state the reason for your visit.

6. Keep track of your safety certificates

Securing contractors to carry out inspections and provide you with gas, energy performance, and electrical safety certificates can be a chore – but it’s your legal duty as a landlord to get these safety certificates completed and frequently renewed to avoid government fines. Our advice? Hold onto all receipts, certificates, and communication records should you face a claim.

Need an easier way to manage safety certificates?

We hope you’ve found our advice for UK landlords helpful and understand the most important things to take care of. If you don’t want the hassle of managing your gas, energy performance, and electrical safety certificates, why not do it the Symple way?

Symple is easy, fast, and built to make landlords’ lives easier. Our platform makes it as simple as clicking a button to process renewals, manage tenant communications, and source reliable engineers from your local area.

No more calls back and forth to arrange appointments, forgetting to renew your certificates, losing track of receipts, or facing fines – Symple takes care of the entire process for you. Just add your property information and the date of the last gas, energy performance, or electrical safety certificate, hit renew, and we’ll do the rest – it’s symple!

Learn more about how Symple works and order your certificates online today.