UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi there, I am about to let my property again but having had a nightmare tenant who was supposedly a "friend", I intend to go through the right channels.   An estate agent gave me a list of requirements before I can let the house but I wonder if someone out there can recommend a checklist for me to go through to ensure that everything I do is correct (including the relevant gas/electric/EPC certificates), ASTs, TDS etc.   Also, what are the main things I should include in the AST.  I have one I used last year which seems sound but if legislation has changed in the last 2 years, I would be grateful for your advice.  Is it right to add in a clause that I will be visiting to inspect the property every quarter?

Thanks! 

You'd find it handy going one of the letting bodies RLA etc and getting the documentation off them.  You can add that clause in but you can do inspections whenever you want as long as you give written notice so could be monthly for the first three, then quarterly, dropping to 6 monthly if you want.  No need for an elec cert either, just the gas and the stupid pointless waste of time epc.  Most important is the deposit protection and the issuing of PI and dealing with and reissuing PI when the initial AST ends, actually, most important is not finding toe rag tenants.  Don't be desperate to get someone in at all cost, nothing more expensive than a bad tenant.

Try this...

http://www.depositprotection.com/documents/dps-landlords-checklist.pdf

Thank you, this is extremely helpful.