Landlords Information Guide to Letting Your Property

1. Preparing to Let Your Property

📄 Access the Government’s “How to Let” Guide

Before you begin, we recommend reviewing the official checklist for landlords in England. It outlines legal obligations, documentation, safety checks, tenancy setup and more.

💷 Understand the Financial Commitment

While letting can offer strong returns, you’ll need to consider both income and costs.

Potential Income:

Monthly rent
Capital growth in property value

Typical Costs:

Stamp duty, mortgage fees & legal costs
Letting agent fees
Insurance, maintenance & safety checks
Income tax
Void periods between tenancies

Speak with our team to understand local demand and rental values before you invest.

2. Legal Responsibilities as a Landlord

Keeping your property legally compliant is essential. We’ll support you with the following:

✅ Required Documents & Checks

Gas Safety Certificate (annually)
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) (every 5 years)
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – rating must be E or above
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms (tested on move-in day)

🚰 Other Considerations

Water systems should be tested for Legionella
Soft furnishings must comply with fire safety standards
Clear agreement on utilities & council tax responsibilities
A deposit must be registered with a government-approved scheme

We’ll ensure these are in place before tenants move in.

3. Choosing the Right Letting Agent

Your choice of agent makes a big difference.

👤 Why Julie Philpot Lettings?

Local expertise
Propertymark-qualified professionals
Full marketing exposure on Rightmove, on the Market, Zoopla & our own Julie Philpot website
Full compliance with industry regulations

We offer a free, no-obligation valuation where we’ll assess:

Rental potential
Target tenant groups
Property condition and any recommended works
Local amenities and market demand

4. Getting the Property Let

🛋️ Furnishing Options:

Unfurnished: Includes carpets, curtains, cooker
Part-furnished: Includes major furniture + appliances
Fully furnished: Ready-to-live-in standard

📸 Marketing & Viewings

We photograph your property, create floor plans and prepare a property brochure
We advertise the property on all major portals to secure a tenant in-line with landlord guidelines
We’ll arrange accompanied viewings or help you host your own.
Interested tenants complete a pre-application form before placing a holding deposit to secure the property.

5. Referencing & Tenancy Set-Up

Once a suitable tenant is found, we handle:

Credit & Reference checks
Right to Rent checks
Drafting & Execution of the tenancy agreement
Setting up standing orders
Collection and registration of Tenants Security Deposit with TDS and issue protection certificates
Notify Utility providers of the transfer of service contracts to the Tenant

We also prepare a detailed inventory with photos to protect both you and the tenant (subject to an additional fee for non- managed properties (see our full list of Landlords Services and Fees Guide here

6. During the Tenancy

Your service level determines how hands-on or hands-off you’ll need to be.

🔧 Maintenance & Inspections

Tenants report issues
We arrange repairs with trusted local contractors
Quarterly inspections provide peace of mind

💷 Rent Collection & Arrears

We’ll manage rent collection and notify you of late payments
Premium Fully Managed clients benefit from rent protection insurance and legal eviction cover

7. End of Tenancy & Renewals

When the fixed term nears its end:

We’ll discuss whether your tenant wishes to renew or vacate
If vacating, we’ll conduct a checkout inspection, compare it to the inventory and handle deposit negotiations
If renewing, we’ll manage contract extensions and rent reviews

We aim to minimise void periods and keep your investment working for you.

🏡 Ready to Let?

Let’s get started. Book your free rental valuation or speak to our lettings team today.