What to know before letting your property in Bristol
There are over 400 rules and regulations set by 150 laws that landlords and letting agents in bristol need to abide by.
In fact, there are so many different bits of information you need to stay up-to-date on. that unless you’re a full-time landlord, we recommend using a Bristol letting agency, like Brunt & Fussell, to avoid any hassle.
With Brunt & Fussells’ combined 80 years of experience and Propertymark membership, we can confidently and legally market, let, manage and maintain your property.
Preparing your property to let in Bristol
Before your property can even legally go to market, you need to demonstrate that the property is “fit to live in”.
The law requires different properties to have landlords or letting agents in Bristol obtain a property licence or be registered. Check the government website to confirm if you need any additional licencing. Many Bristol letting agencies such as Brunt & Fussell are fully licenced and registered to avoid you having to deal with additional paperwork.
England requires your property to meet a minimum EPC rating of “E”. You must renew your Gas Safety Certification annually from a registered Gas Safe engineer.
Your electrics on the property should be checked by a “Part P” registered electrician who belongs to NAPIT, NIEIC, or ECR, and you must secure you get an Electrical Safety Certificate.
The type of property, and how it is let, will determine the fire risk assessment and fire safety regulations you need to follow.
Lastly, you need to ensure the property is free from damp, mould, and condensation.
Letting single rooms in a property
When you let each bedroom as a different agreement per tenant, it is classified as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). You will need to adhere to different rules and regulations such as room sizes, fire regulations, and different licencing. Some properties are not permitted to be let as HMO property, and the property must be let as a single unit.
Protecting you and your tenant
Once you’ve found a tenant for your property, there are several legal requirements you must follow.
- Making Right to Rent checks
- Issuing the correct paperwork
- The deposit is placed in a government tenancy scheme
- Ensure your tenants understand their rights and responsibilities
Protect yourself by taking inventory and quality checks of the property and having the correct landlord insurance.
Lastly, make sure you have the right mortgage. If you currently have a standard residential mortgage on your home, you must speak to your lender before letting it. When you’re paying your mortgage with your income, the loan is seen as low risk. When you’re repaying the loan with renters, then it is seen as a higher risk.
Choose a lettings agent in Bristol to remove the hassle
If you manage your property in a way that is not legally compliant, then you risk facing heavy fines, prosecution, and banned from being a landlord.
There is so much to know and keep up-to-date with that sometimes it is better to work with a Bristol letting agency to ensure your letting property is legally managed and maintained.
Contact us today for a free valuation for your property.
