Landlords in Kent
Need to Heed These Rules and Regulations

In this three-minute
read, we take a look at the most common rules and regulations that Kent landlords need to remember.

Being a landlord is a
tricky business. There are nearly 200 different pieces of legislation covering
the how, why, and when of managing a rental property. Here are just four that
landlords are often not getting quite right.

Deposit protection

In England, Scotland,
and Wales, the deposit must be registered with a deposit protection scheme. The
2021 UK Landlord Survey found that 81% of landlords find registering their
deposit difficult.

The deposit must be
registered within 30 days of receiving cleared funds. The schemes are
government-approved and the tenant must be informed where the money is
deposited.

Energy performance certificates

Every rental property
in the UK has to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). They are stored
on an electronic register that is publicly available. However, they also have
to be included in any advertising you do for your property.

Electrical safety regulations

In June 2020, strict
rules about electrical testing for new tenancies in rental properties came into
force. Inspections must be carried out by a qualified person on all fixed
electrical installations.

Since 1 April of this
year, it also came into force for existing tenancies. A professional with an
industry-recognised apprenticeship or Level 3 Certificate in Installing,
Testing and Ensuring Compliance of Electrical Installations in Dwellings must
carry this out. Any issues have to be resolved and the tenant must receive a
copy of the inspection report within 28 days.

Gas safety check regulations

If you have gas going
in to your rental property, all appliances, pipework, and flues must be checked
annually.

As for the electrical
safety tests, ensure that you use a qualified engineer and don’t plump for the
cheapest. The report must be given to the tenant within 28 days as well.

TOP TIP: As with any time you need to visit, or arrange a visit to the property,
make sure you give the tenant at least 24 hours’ notice. Keep a record of
having given notice. If the tenant refuses access, you’ve then got the evidence
that you tried.

If you’re a landlord
in Kent and are not 100% sure on all the rules and regulations
you need to abide by, get in touch with us at CWB Property. A
free, no-obligation chat will show you what you might need to tweak or if
you’re on the right track.