If you have a residential mortgage contact your mortgage lender and ask permission to let your property

Obtain a Gas Safety Certificate from a Corgi registered plumber

Fit mains operated smoke alarms on all floors if not already in place

Check all electrical equipment and ensure its safe operation. Best practice advises you to arrange for a Portable Appliance Test and a Fixed Wiring Test from a qualified electrician.

Check that furniture complies with Fire Safety Regulations

If you intend to be an overseas landlord, apply for the Exemption Certificate from the Inland Revenue

There are safety regulations you must observe regarding gas and electrical equipment and furniture/furnishings.

If your property is leasehold, you need permission from the lessee

Arrange Landlord’s insurance on the property

Obtain an Energy Performance Certificate

The Gas Safety Regulations 1998 applies to domestic properties. Gas appliances must be checked and certified by a qualified engineer before a tenancy begins. A copy of the Gas Safety Certificate must be given to an agent and tenants prior to the start of a tenancy. A test is required annually.

Quite simply, any furniture dating from 1950 and pre-1988 must be removed or replaced, as they are unlikely to meet regulatory standards. The Landlord must provide the Agent with evidence that all furniture and furnishings left in the Property comply with the Furniture and Furnishings Fire and Safety Regulations 1988.

Best practice recommends the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in let properties, and this may become a legal requirement in due course.

Electrical Safety Regulations – A new part of the Building Regulations, Part P Electrical Safety came into force on 1st January 2005, and requires electrical works to be carried out by a qualified/competent electrician. Implementation of the Housing Act 2004, Part P (Electrical Safety of Building Regulations) advises all rental properties should have a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) and a Fixed Wiring Test (FWT).

Properties built since 1992 must be fitted with mains supply smoke detectors on all floors.

It is the Landlords responsibility to ensure that all internal doors are fitted with toughened safety glass.

From 1st October 2008 Energy Performance Certificates are required before a property can be advertised to rent. It must be shown when written information about the property is provided to prospective tenants, when a viewing is conducted, and must be given to the tenant at the commencement of the tenancy.

Once in place the EPC is valid for 10 years, and can be amended for a small cost following any energy saving enhancements to the property. If you would like help to get an EPC contact us.

If your property has polystyrene ceiling tiles these must be removed as they give off toxic fumes when alight.

You need Landlord’s Insurance, which will cover you for public liability. You can also arrange cover for non-payment of rent and other matters. We can offer such policies very competitively, please ring 0114 248 7030 and ask for details, or click here to email us.

JMC will create an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement, which is the industry norm, and gives the Landlord the right to regain possession of the property at the end of the fixed term (initially six months). It details the responsibilities of your tenant, and us as your agent. It also states what can or can’t be done to the property.

Housing Act Notices: further documents are required to enable you to regain your property and we will prepare these in the correct format, at the appropriate time.

We will deal with the execution of all documents on your behalf, both initially and for renewals, including the signing of documents for you as your Agent. Renewals can be arranged for six months, for twelve months, or for longer periods if so desired by both Landlord and Tenant.

We will regularly inspect the property during the tenancy and send you a written report, which makes tenants more likely to maintain their care of the property to a high standard.

After consulting with you we will make arrangements to carry out any necessary repairs to your property, its fixtures and fittings. In the event of an emergency, common sense decisions to limit further damage will be taken by us as your Agent.

The garden should be in good order when the tenants move in, and you should provide the gardening equipment so that the tenant can maintain it. Alternatively you may wish us to arrange for a regular gardener to do the work during the tenancy.

About three months before the end of the tenancy we will contact you to find out how you want to proceed, and will then act, either to renew the tenancy or to schedule the check-out. If no renewal is to take place we will re-market the property.

Gas, electricity and water companies etc., should be notified when the property is empty. We will read the meters at the end of the tenancy and will report the figures to the relevant utility company. During any ‘void’ period the utility services will be transferred back into your name but, assuming we are still under your instructions, accounts will be made care of our office address. Any bills arriving during a ‘void’ period will be forwarded on to you to pay the utility company directly.

Telephone companies will not generally deal with third parties, although may do so if you are residing abroad, but generally speaking you would have to deal with this yourself.

Council Tax: we will inform the Council of each and every change of occupancy. The tenant is obligated to inform the Council to register and pay for Council Tax.