Landlord responsibilities

There are a number of responsibilities that fall on a landlord that is renting out a property.

These include the requirements to:

• keep rented properties safe and free from health hazards;
• make sure all gas equipment and electrical equipment is safely installed and maintained;
• provide an Energy Performance Certificate for the property;
• protect their tenant’s deposit in a government-approved scheme;
• check their tenant has the right to rent your property if it’s in England; and
• give their tenant a copy of the How to rent checklist when they start renting from you (you can email it to them).

There are different rules for landlords in Scotland and landlords in Northern Ireland.

There are also requirements relating to fire safety, health and safety inspections, financial responsibilities and special rules for regulated tenancies (usually private tenancies starting before 15 January 1989).