Starting a tenancy
Pre-tenancy checks are for you to satisfy yourself that your prospective tenant is suitable. This will involve credit checks, obtain references and agree the contract that will be signed between you and your tenant, commonly an assured periodic tenancy.
You will also need to check the immigration status of the prospective tenant under Right to Rent rules:
Right to rent immigration checks: landlords' code of practice
To view a tenant's right to rent in England
Protecting your tenant’s deposit
Once these checks have been satisfied if a deposit is being taken then this will have to be protected in one of the three Government deposit schemes.
If you do not protect a deposit you will not be allowed to use the section 21 notice to quit process. Your tenants can claim up to three times the value of the deposit if it is left unprotected.
Documents you need to give your tenants
You must provide the following documents to your tenant at the start of the tenancy:
- A written statement of the key tenancy terms
- An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
- Deposit protection information (where applicable)
- A current Gas Safety Certificate (where applicable)
- An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
- A copy of the property licence (where applicable)
Failure to provide the information at the start of the tenancy could make regaining possession of your property more difficult, as you may be unable to rely on the appropriate legal grounds for possession if you have not provided these documents.
