How to: let, lease or rent a safe home

How to lease a home, rent a safe home, rent a houseThe statutory booklet on ‘How to Rent’ has been updated by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

The guide is produced for the benefit of private rental sector tenants and landlords, setting out the rights and responsibilities of the tenant. The topics include:

  • What to look out for before taking out a tenancy
  • Tenant and landlords responsibilities
  • What happens at the end of a tenancy fixed period
  • What to do if things go wrong

A printed copy of this new version must be provided to the tenant by the landlord; a link to the online document is not sufficient. Failure to present the correct booklet will prevent the landlord from serving a section 21 notice for tenancies taken up after 1st October 2015 or a subsequent replacement tenancy.

Check you have an up to date version of the ‘How to Rent: the checklist for renting in England’ booklet.

The MHCLG has published three further non-statutory booklets, aimed at guiding current and prospective private residential landlords, tenants and leaseholders:

How to Rent a Safe Home sets out the main hazards of renting and the obligations of the social or private rented sector landlord. It includes a checklist for tenants and details the action a tenant is advised to take should they have a concern.

How to Let is for current and prospective landlords, explaining the responsibilities, legal requirements and best practice for letting a property in the private rented sector. It isn’t intended to cover leasehold, holiday lets or ‘resident landlords’ who let to lodgers.

How to Lease is aimed at current and prospective leaseholders and sets out the differences between leasehold and freehold property and the rights, obligations and implications of being a leaseholder.

Contact your local Property Surveying Chartered Surveyor for a survey on your letting property.

SH/LCB

Back to July 2018 Newsletter

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