Documents that you need to maintain, most of these are required by legislation, so penalties may apply if you don’t comply:

• Building and landlord insurance
• Gas Safety Certificates
• Energy Performance Certificates
• Electrical Installation Reports and Certificates
• Smoke detectors on each floor
• Carbon monoxide detectors if required
• Copies of tenant’s references
• Tenants’ agreement to receive communications by email
• Proof that tenant has right to rent in the UK (copy passport for example)
• Household inventory
• Register your property business with HMRC
• Tenants contact details
• Protect deposit within 30 days of receipt
• You are required to respond to written complaints within 14 days of receipt, in writing
• Inform tenants prior to a property inspection

Provide tenant with:

• How to Rent – the checklist for renting in England
• Guarantors Agreement – if required
• Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement
• Information regarding Deposit Protection Scheme
• Serve the correct form of notice to end tenancy
• Tenant should sign a list of deductions made from rent deposits
• Return whole or balance of deposit at end of tenancy

Many landlords use the services of letting agencies who would no doubt ensure that you are compliant…