Is your Property Ready to be Rented? A Checklist for New Landlords

Are you a new landlord preparing to rent one of your properties for the first time? Before you take the leap and actually get tenants into the new rental, there are a few things to consider.

Whilst the basis of the rental transaction seems straightforward, many legalities and preparations must be considered ahead of time.

Here’s a landlord checklist.

Screening Tenants

One essential thing to ensure a dispute-free and profitable tenancy is thoroughly screening the tenants you’re considering leasing to.

Request tenant references to check:

  • Proof of identity
  • Employment and financial status, as well as credit history
  • Previous addresses
  • Right to rent (this is a legal requirement. If an illegal tenant rents from you, you might be faced with a £3,000 fine.)
  • Guarantor information (if you want to ask for a guarantor)
  • Previous landlord references


The Tenancy Agreement

Next, you’ll need to have an official tenancy agreement in place. Whilst you’re not required by law to prepare a contract, it’s a bad idea to forego this step. A solid tenancy agreement is vital if you are faced with a dispute and will protect you from losing out on rent, the deposit, and more.

It also ensures you know how long tenants will be on the property, how much notice to serve them, and when they should serve notice to you. This makes it easier for you to line up new tenants if your current ones wish to leave.

Checking the Property

The next step is preparing a schedule of condition to check that the property is ready to be rented. This also feeds into your tenancy agreement as you should decide which aspects of the property will be your responsibility to maintain and which your tenants should take care of.

Check that…
  • The property is structurally sound
  • The property is tidy and clean
  • The property is free from damp
  • You have noted down whether it will be rented furnished or unfurnished
  • Every appliance, light switches, sockets, door locks and window work
  • Electrical appliances should have a Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) certificate, not mandatory but good practice
  • If you have gas appliances, that a Gas Safe certificate in place (a legal requirement)
  • You have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
  • The deposit you take must be held in a government approved scheme or insurance scheme


Ask yourself who is going to complete the schedule of condition as well as the start-of-tenancy inventory. A letting agent can do this for you, or you can bring in a third-party provider.

With a free schedule of condition tool like Report2Go, you’ll also be equipped to handle your inventory. Simply fill out the template in the app with pictures and written observations. You can then compare future inventories with the previous one side-by-side and quickly check if the property's condition has changed throughout a tenancy.

With a free schedule of condition tool like Report2Go, you’ll also be equipped to handle your inventory. Simply fill out the template in the app with pictures and written observations. You can then compare future inventories with the previous one side-by-side and quickly check if the property's condition has changed throughout a tenancy.



Panos, 07 October 2022
Is your Property Ready to be Rented? A Checklist for New Landlords

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