Apples? Check. Bread? Check. Tenancy agreement? Check? In this month’s column, we explain why a supermarket style tenancy may be best left on the shelf…
Assured shorthold tenancies are easy to come by, online and on the high street. Even supermarkets are getting in on the act.
But before you sling one into your shopping basket, take time to consider your obligations as a landlord and what needs to be undertaken when you sign up a new tenant.
In October last year, a raft of changes was introduced that require you to provide incoming renters with additional background information. This includes a copy of your property’s Energy Performance Certificate, for which you cannot make charge, a copy of the gas safety certificate and in England, the Department for Communities and Local Government’s “how to rent” leaflet. You also have a duty to fit smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
February saw further new legislation implemented that obliges you to check the prospective tenant’s immigration status against the right to rent scheme. Before handing over keys to your property, you must now confirm he or she is entitled to occupy a home in England.
Finally, if you own a house of multiple occupancy, you need to check it is licensed under the Housing Act 2004 before granting tenancy agreements.
It may surprise you to learn that an assured shorthold tenancy with a fixed term of less than three years does not have to be in writing – it can be an oral arrangement. That said, it is sensible to have any legal agreement recorded and we would always recommend you invest in formal documentation.
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