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What Jobs do Landlords need to Carry Out Before Letting Out Their Properties?

Posted On Wednesday, 14 September 2022 20:13
What Jobs do Landlords need to Carry Out Before Letting Out Their Properties?

To get the best out of the properties you’re renting out, it makes sense to do a little preparation before you let out your property. This will ensure that the property is fit for purpose, both from an aesthetic point of view, and when it comes to health and safety. There are certain jobs that are impractical when the property is occupied; thus, you’ll want to take advantage of every spare moment and get them done before anyone moves in.

Landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure that their properties are habitable – but you should also be proactive for commercial purposes. A good reputation takes time to develop, but a bad one can transpire almost overnight.

So, which areas of the property are worth attending to?

Bathrooms

Naturally, the bathroom is an area where moisture will naturally accumulate. This means that mould and grime can take hold, which is bad news if you’re trying to appeal to would-be tenants. Everyone likes to feel clean when they’re in the bathroom, after all. 

Refreshing a bathroom is often a simple matter of cleaning drains, replacing extractor fans, and replacing the sealant around baths and showers. If the tiling has become dirty, then it’s worth spending an hour or so scrubbing them or replacing the tile grout entirely. Use a toothbrush to get through those tightly-packed mosaics.

Heating

Hot water is a legal requirement. If the property isn’t being properly heated, then you could face legal penalties. Have the boiler serviced annually, as well as in between tenants. It can be inconvenient to arrange an engineer when the property is occupied, so get it done while it’s empty.

The ideal temperature throughout the property should be around twenty-one degrees – and perhaps even less in the bedrooms. Your tenants might want to push things further, however. Make sure that everything is appropriately insulated, and that your system has sufficient power to cope with the strain.

Health and Safety

All gasworks and electrical equipment should be appropriately maintained and installed, by qualified engineers. Make sure that you have the documentation to prove that you’ve taken this step. You’re also required to install interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. A good electrician will be able to advise you on the law here. Make sure that you develop a close relationship with one – it’ll pay for itself in the long term.

Exterior

You should also ensure that the fabric of the building is water-tight and that there aren’t any leaks. If you don’t, then you might find that the problem becomes worse and worse, until it eventually becomes unignorable.

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