UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello - I am about to renew a 12-month contract with my tenants, having got their agreement to a small rent increase. I know I need to resend them the How to Rent guide, gas safety certificate, electrical certificate and energy performance certificate. Do I also need to take a bunch of new photos and do a new schedule of condition? Thanks in advance for any replies.

Increase the rent, let the tenancy go periodic. Way easier, way more control for you.

If you're doing a new fixed term tenancy then you should reset everything, including Deposit protection.

Why you would be doing a new fixed term tenancy is another question entirely. One or both parties might think that is the only option, obviously it is not... one or both may desire the security of a fixed term - but that comes with an admin. burden (mainly for the Landlord).

Quote from: LouiseTree on August 08, 2023, 09:50:12 PM. I know I need to resend them the How to Rent guide, gas safety certificate, electrical certificate and energy performance certificate.

Interesting that you know something that is almost entirely wrong.
None of those things need to be resent, other than the How to Rent guide if it's changed since it was initially supplied (It was last updated on 24 March 2023, though so that's quite likely).

Quote from: Hippogriff on August 09, 2023, 08:17:56 AMIf you're doing a new fixed term tenancy then you should reset everything, including Deposit protection.

If the deposit was protected and the PI issued for a tenancy created after 2007, there is no need to do anything related to the deposit (although check the scheme information if the deposit is insured).

I agree with the other responses, though, I wouldn't be renewing a tenancy either.

Thanks for the replies.  I renewed the contract because I thought I had to do that to put the rent up! Clearly I  was wrong about that. I take everyone's point that it would have been better to let the tenancy become periodic but it's too late for that now as we have signed the new contract. I am left still not knowing if we also need a new schedule of condition however.

No,you don't.It is how things were when they moved in,and when they have left that are relevant.

It is not unusual for many landlords to think this way. My theory is many self managing landlords originally used agents. The practice of renewing tenancy agreements before they go periodic is what agents routinely do in order to charge the landlord an additional fee for the renewed tenancy agreement. This then became learned practice for landlords who then went on to self manage. It's not wrong to renew, it's just that it involves a lot of unnecessary admin which increases the probability of getting something wrong. The Renters Reform Bill will soon put an end to fixed term tenancies. They will all be periodic from the start.

Thanks everyone.