UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi, I have a few queries that have cropped up on a house I rent out.  I wondered whether anyone would be able to help. (The house is not a HMO property).

1)  is it ok to just have a mortice lock on the front door or do I need to fit a 'yale' lock as well?

2)  is a 'carbon monoxide' alarm mandatory?

3)  with regard to legionella testing - is it needed if a combi boiler is fitted and no water tanks are used?

4)  A rent increase on the property is very overdue.  How much notice (prior to the end of the AST fixed term period) do I need to give the tenant - is it two months before the end of the tenancy?  Obviously the rent increase would be a reasonable/sensible small amount but I just wondered whether there was any rule about a particular percentage (there's none stated in the contract).

5)  The tenant presently has a 12 month AST contract. At the end of this if they wish to renew am I best to give another fixed term contract (6 months say) or should I just revert to a month to month rolling contract and not issue another fixed term contract?

I'd be really grateful if anyone could help with one or more of the above points.  I've tried to look these points up on the internet but have been getting differing answers.

1)  Yes, OK.
2)  Depends on your fuel source, but why not get one anyway? £12 for 7 years of life.
3)  Yeah, but it's simple. You don't need to pay for anything.
4)  No rule about a percentage. If by agreement then no terms required specifically, otherwise look up Section 13.
5) SPT.

Many thanks for your reply which was very helpful... and apologies for the delay in posting this.  In relation to my question no. 5, I'm totally puzzled as to what SPT means.

Goes to a Statutory Periodic Tenancy rather than a fixed term i.e month to month.