What are a landlord’s obligations?

As a landlord you’ve got certain responsibilities and legal obligations to your tenant. These are the main things you have to do
 

Look after the building

Keeping the exterior of a property to let in good condition is a landlord’s obligation. Make sure you maintain the roof, drains and gutters.
 

Have the right insurance

You should insure the property to let and the contents that are included with it.  Your tenants are responsible for insuring their own possessions. Make sure your insurance covers you as a landlord, for renting your property and carries Public Liability insurance - normal household buildings and contents cover probably won’t.
 

Make sure services are available

It is also a landlord’s obligation to make sure that the property to let is supplied with services like gas, electricity, water, sanitation and heating.
 

Leave your tenants in peace

A 'covenant of quiet enjoyment' is part of most tenancy agreements.  It means a landlord mustn't interfere with the tenants.
For example, you can't

• Go in to the rented property without their consent, except in an emergency
  
• Do anything that affects the tenants’ rights, for example cutting off services to force a tenant to leave

A landlord’s legal obligations

Every year gas equipment like boilers and ovens must be inspected by a person qualified to undertake testing. These engineers must be registered with and qualified by GasSafe (formerly CORGI). Any electrical equipment supply has to be safe too, and furniture must be fire resistant.

To make sure you're up to date with all the relevant safety regulations, our letting agents provide leaflets with all the information you need.  KFH is obliged to refuse to take on a property to let where the furniture, furnishings, gas installations or electrical equipment do not comply.

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