Becoming a Landlord: What to Sort Before Anyone Moves In

Becoming a Landlord: What to Sort Before Anyone Moves In

Letting out a property for the first time can feel like a big step, and it should. You are taking on a home, a tenant, and a set of legal responsibilities that carry real consequences if they are missed.

The good news is that it is entirely manageable once you know what is expected. This is your plain-English checklist of what needs to be in place before a tenant so much as picks up the keys. Get these right and you protect your tenant, your property and yourself.

What are you legally responsible for as a landlord?

Before a tenancy begins, the law expects a landlord to have certain safety and paperwork basics in place. These are not optional, and several carry penalties if they are ignored. Here are the essentials as things currently stand in 2026.

1. A valid Gas Safety Certificate. If the property has gas, an annual safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer is required, and the tenant must be given a copy.
2. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). The electrics currently need to be inspected and certified as safe, usually at least every five years, with a copy provided to the tenant.
3. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). You must have a valid EPC, and for most tenancies the property currently needs to reach at least an E rating.
4. Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Current rules require a smoke alarm on every storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, all tested and working at the start of the tenancy.

That is the safety backbone. Miss one of these and you are not just risking a fine, you are risking your tenant's wellbeing.

What paperwork protects both of you?

Alongside safety, a proper paper trail is what keeps a tenancy calm and keeps you firmly on the right side of the rules.

1. Protect the deposit. Any deposit you take currently has to be placed in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme, normally within 30 days, and the tenant given the required information. Getting this wrong can affect your ability to regain possession later.
2. Carry out Right to Rent checks. In England you are currently required to check that your tenant has the legal right to rent in the UK before the tenancy starts.
3. Provide the 'How to Rent' guide. Tenants on an assured shorthold tenancy in England should currently be given the government's latest How to Rent checklist.
4. Use a written tenancy agreement. A clear, up-to-date agreement sets out exactly what both sides have agreed and heads off most disputes before they start.

Why does the inventory matter so much?

An inventory is the detailed record of the property's condition and contents at the start of the tenancy. It is your evidence. If there is ever a dispute over the deposit at the end, a thorough, dated, photographed and signed inventory is what settles it in your favour. Skipping it is one of the most expensive shortcuts a new landlord can take. We will be covering inventories in full in a future post, because they genuinely deserve one.

What else is worth sorting before you start?

• Specialist landlord insurance. Standard home insurance usually will not cover a property you let out.
• A licence, if you need one. Some property types and some areas require a licence to let, so check your local council's rules before you begin.
• Proper referencing. Checking a tenant's references and affordability up front saves a great deal of worry later on.
• A plan for repairs. Know who you will call when something breaks, because at some point something always does.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need all these certificates before letting?

Yes. Gas safety, electrical safety, an EPC and working alarms are current legal requirements for most lets, not nice-to-haves. Several carry financial penalties if they are missing, so they need to be sorted before the tenancy begins.

How quickly must I protect the tenant's deposit?

If you take a deposit on an assured shorthold tenancy, it currently needs to go into a government-approved protection scheme, generally within 30 days, with the prescribed information handed to the tenant.

Can I manage all of this myself?

Many landlords do. But the rules change often and the penalties for getting them wrong are real. A good letting agent keeps you compliant and takes the day-to-day pressure off, which is why many first-time landlords choose to have support in their corner.

If you are letting for the first time and want a hand making sure every box is ticked before your tenant moves in, we are here to help. There is no such thing as a silly question, so please just ask.

Know someone about to become a landlord for the first time? Please pass this checklist on to them.

About the Ethical Agent Network

We are members of the Ethical Agent Network (EAN). Membership cannot be bought. Every agent has to pass an independent assessment on honesty, service and the way they treat people. So when you see the EAN logo on an agent's window or website, it is a signal you can trust before you have even walked through the door. To find out more, please get in touch or visit www.ethicalagentnetwork.co.uk