What are my obligations and responsibilities as a landlord?
By subletting your home, you will become a landlord which is a big responsibility, and you will have obligations to your tenants.
Before you sublet your home, you should thoroughly research the responsibilities you will have. We have provided some links below for resources you may find useful. You may also wish to seek independent legal advice from a qualified solicitor.
Some of your responsibilities as a landlord include the following:
- You must ensure that the electrical installation and any electrical appliances you provide are safe, to reduce the risk of electrocution or fire. Electrical installations should be inspected and tested at least every five years and appliances more frequently, dependent on their type. For details on how to find a registered electrician, please visit esc.org.uk.
- You must ensure that the gas installation and any gas appliances you provide are safe. You should have a gas safe inspection every year. For details on how to find a registered gas safe engineer, please visit gassaferegister.co.uk.
- You must need to carry out an inspection of your property and look for any obvious hazards before the start of a tenancy. The accommodation must be in good repair, well-maintained, and capable of being effectively heated. Any safety hazards must be dealt with before commencement of a tenancy.
- You must ensure that there is a safe means of escape from the property in the event of a fire and that a suitable fire alarm system has been fitted. Each property is different, and you may need to carry out a fire risk assessment.
- If you own an apartment, you will be responsible for all repairs and maintenance to the interior. Some leases will also say you are responsible for the windows and the flat door. You must check your lease carefully to be clear on your responsibilities.
- You must report any repairs or maintenance that we are responsible for to us.
- If you own a house, you will be responsible for all internal and external repairs.
- If you take a deposit from your tenant, it must be protected through one of three government approved deposit protection schemes: