Landlords Checklist 1 - Essential Property Details
 by David Wheater

Renting out your first property can be a daunting task, especially trying to comply with all the rules and regulations which apply to renting. Here is a checklist which should help you record all the essential details of your property and keep you up to date with your legal duties. Please feel free to amend it to suit your own requirements.

Download checklist as a PDF file here

  
Property:............................................................................................       Date:.....................
  
       
LEGAL:
      
  1. Landlord registration
  2. Title prohibitions to let?
  3. Lender consents to let
  4. Lender conditions
  5. BTL insurance
  6. Public Liability Insurance
  7. Factor & charges
  8. EPC
  9. PIR
  10. PAT
  11. GAS CERT.
  12. Fire safety assessment
  13. Gas safety assessment
  14. Elec safety assessment
  15. Appliance instruc's folder
  16. Safety info folder
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Number:______________      Date:__________

(i.e. if it's your home and not a BTL!)
No students ? [  ]

(Essential)
(Must be put in the lease too !)
(Energy Performance Certificate - electrics)
(Periodic Inspection Report - electrics)
(Portable Appliance Test)
(Use "Gas Safe" Engineer only)



(GCH/Smoke alarms too)
(how to switch off utilities/fire safety...)
                    
PROPERTY:      
  1. Utility turn off points
  2. RCD Consumer unit
  3. Smoke alarms
  4. CO2 alarms
  5. Fire Extinguisher
  6. Fire Blanket
  7. Window Locks
  8. Door locks
  9. Energy saving bulbs
  10. Keys - 4 sets
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(Put in safety folder for tenants)
(RCD's are a good safety precaution)
(Remember give instruc's to tenants)
(Carbon Monoxide Alarms essential)
  
ANNUAL DATES FOR DIARY:
     
 GAS Cert & Service:....................
  P.A.T. Cert:....................
  
 Periodic Inspection Report:....................             EPC:....................
  
 Landlord Registration Renewal Date:....................
  
 Insurance Renewal Date:....................
  

ESSENTIAL PROPERTY DETAILS:

Address:...............................................................................................................................

Postcode:..............................

Title Sheet No:......................

Mortgage Lender:...........................................................................................................
(Mortgage A/c No:...............................................)
Second Charge:..............................................................................................................
(Mortgage A/c No:...............................................)

Lender consent obtained to let ? [  ]
BTL Insurer:....................................................................................................................
(Insurance No:......................................................)

Type of Heating:...............................................................................................................
Boiler Type:
Age of Boiler
Gas Safety Cert date:

Electricity Consumer Unit:.................................................................................................
Age:...............................       RCD Protected ?................................................................

  

LETTING DETAILS

  1. Fully Furnished [  ]   Unfurnished   [  ]   Partially Furnished   [  ]

  2. Parts/areas not included e.g. attic/roof/garden/outbuildings/rooms ?:
    ..............................................................................................................................
    (Make sure these excepted parts are spelt out in the lease as excepted!)

  3. Available from:....................

  4. Rent Required £....................... pcm

  5. Deposit £...........................   Held by Agent   [  ]   Held by Landlord   [  ]

  6. Short Assured Tenancy (6 months/12 months?)   [  ]

  7. Type of tenant - professional   [  ]   mature student   [  ]   (lender allows students ? [  ])

  8. Date to re-gain possession of property:.......................

  9. Name & Address of Factor:..........................................................................
    .....................................................................................................................
    Annual Factoring Charge £.........................   Renewal Date:..........................
    Tenant to pay   [  ]   Landlord to pay   [  ]

  10. Stair Cleaning Company Name & Address:
    Cost £..................... per WK / FORTNIGHT / MONTHLY
    Tenant to Pay   [  ]   Landlord to Pay   [  ]

  11. Council Tax Band - A   B   C   D   E   F        £........................... per annum

  12. Boiler Service Contract Provider:..............................................................................
    Contract Number:..................................
    Last Service Date:..................................
    Defects to be remedied ? ..........................................................................................

  13. Central Heating:   Overview of controls   [  ]   Manuals   [  ]

  14. Electricity Supplier:............................................................
    Gas Supplier:.....................................................................

    Utility costs: GAS £.................... pcm    ELEC £.................... pcm

  15. CO2 Detector [  ]   Install date:....................

    Smoke Alarms:
    1...........................................................................
    2...........................................................................
    3...........................................................................
    4...........................................................................

  16. Virgin Media/ Sky:...................................................................................................
    Cost of service £........................ pcm

  17. BT Socket: YES [  ]   NO [  ]       Connected: YES [  ]   NO [  ]

  18. Kitchen appliances:

    Electric Hob [  ]   Gas Hob [  ]
    Electric Oven [  ]  Gas Oven [  ]   Extractor Fan [  ]

    Fridge [  ]   Freezer [  ]   Dishwasher [  ]   Microwave [  ]
    Toaster [  ]   Kettle [  ]   Iron [  ]

    Other Appliances:....................................................................................................

    Manuals available for all appliances & Central Heating [  ] YES   [  ] NO
    Missing Manuals:......................................................................................................

  19. Location of:-

    GAS METER:........................................................................
    ELEC METER:.......................................................................
    WATER TAP:........................................................................

    Is yellow key for Gas meter cupboard available ? [  ]

  20. Rubbish Disposal:
    Bin No:...............   Location:.................................   Day to be put out:......................
    Recycling Days:....................................................

  21. Parking:
    Allocated [  ]   Residents only [  ]
    Permit Holders Only   Free on street [  ]    Cost of Parking Permit £..........................

  22. Bus and Train Services:
    Buses:.....................................................................................................................
    Trains:.....................................................................................................................

  23. Major Employers in area (Source of Tenants?):

    1.............................................................................................................................
    2.............................................................................................................................
    3.............................................................................................................................

  24. Shops, Leisure Centres, useful facilities for tenants (include in adverts?)

    1.............................................................................................................................
    2.............................................................................................................................
    3.............................................................................................................................
    4.............................................................................................................................
    5.............................................................................................................................
    6.............................................................................................................................

    (Created 5 August, 2009)

    David Wheater is a property developer, landlord and non-practising solicitor based in Edinburgh. He can be contacted at www.rentinscotland.com or emailed at mail@rentinscotland.com

    Copyright David Wheater 2009
    The moral right of the author has been asserted.
    This checklist is for personal use only. Any commercial use or financial gain made from its unauthorised use, howsoever arising, shall result in civil legal action.
    All rights reserved. This article and checklist is intended to be a general guide only. The author cannot accept liability for any errors or omissions contained herein nor liability for any loss to any person acting as a result of the information contained in this article. This article offers advice on the basis that readers contemplating letting their own property obtain further professional advice tailored to their own individual needs and requirements.