Home Property Guides Letting Property & Tenant Checks

Property & Tenant Checks

In this section:

What to do before anyone moves into your property?

Before anyone moves into your property make sure that you:

Check your tenant's references
Have your lease document reviewed by your solicitor and signed by all parties.
Ensure your agent is a registered member of the "Tenancy Deposit Scheme" as new laws are now in place about where a tenant's must be legally held. Click here for more information.
Ensure you get an inventory done. Agents will usually always ensure a check in inventory is done before a tenant moves in. If they do not, ask them to organise one. The Landlord typically pays for the check in and the tenant typically pays for the check out inventory. You can however do it yourself. Ensure that both you and your new tenant go through it together, where possible and agree and sign the inventory at the end, ensuring both parties have a clear copy to retain.
Redirect your mail. Tenants (rightly) cannot be relied on to forward your post - it is not their responsibility to.
Arrange for all meters to be read and the accounts to be transferred to new tenant.
Arrange for your council tax to be paid by the new tenant.

The days that your new tenant moves into your property make sure that:

The property is as clean and tidy as you wish to find it on the day you take back possession.
There are instructions for all appliances.
There are cleaning instructions for any special furnishings.
All the vital connection points for gas, water and electricity are labeled - stop cocks, fuses, switches in boiler, etc.
Security devices - alarms, locks, window locks, etc - are all demonstrated and explained to the tenant.
Emergency phone numbers are posted and fire extinguisher, smoke alarms and any other safety devices are explained.
Telephone line is available, and home telephone number is published. You should arrange for account to be transferred to tenant.
Provide a written procedure for how to handle emergencies (i.e. flooding, robbery, fire, etc). The procedure should explain who to contact first and when you, the landlord wishes, to be notified.