Having the correct documentation in place protects landlords and tenants alike, as well as ensuring that the renting process goes smoothly and the tenancy starts when you need it to. Both landlords and tenants must organise their paperwork before the tenancy agreement is signed – we’ve put together a quick guide to help you.

Documents landlords need when letting property:

1. Gas safety certificate

By law, landlords must supply their tenants with a valid gas safety certificate every year. All gas appliances within the property must be tested by a qualified gas safe engineer, who will issue a certificate to evidence this. The Cobbles team can put you in touch with an engineer if you need us to. 

2. Electrical safety certificate

It is a legal requirement for landlords to ensure that the electricity supply and any electrical items are safe and carry a minimum of the CE marking (European safety standard) before the tenancy begins. All circuits within the property need to be tested by a qualified engineer and a satisfactory electrical safety certificate must be issued every five years. This has been best practice for some time but only became law in July 2020. Prior to this, electrical safety certificates were only a legal requirement for houses of multiple occupancy, so you might not have been asked to produce one for your property before. 

3. Energy performance certificate (EPC)

By law, the property owner must produce the EPC every time the property is bought, sold or rented. The EPC is valid for ten years and must be completed by an accredited assessor. All privately rented properties must have a minimum EPC rating of E unless they qualify for an exemption. Again, we can put you in touch with an assessor if you need one. 

4. How to rent

The How to Rent guide was introduced by the government in 2015, providing key information for landlords and tenants. By law, you must provide your tenants with this document, either in hard copy or by email. You can find the latest version of How to Rent here.

Documents tenants need when renting a property:

1. References

Landlords and lettings agents need to know that tenants are of good character and can be relied upon to pay the rent and take responsibility for the property, so you will usually be asked for a character reference, usually from your current landlord or letting agent. 

Tenants also need to provide employment references, to show that you will have the income to cover the rent each month, a Self-Employed Tenant will need to show  at least 6 month’s worth of accounts. All Tenants will also need a credit check. 

2. Proof of earnings

Tenants should expect to show payslips or bank statements to prove that they have sufficient regular income or savings to cover the rent. 

3. Proof of identity

Tenants must provide proof of identity and current/previous address. As well as an official document like a valid passport or driving license, agents and landlords also need to see proof of address, such as a utility bill. 

4. Right to rent

Landlords and/or agents have to carry out “right to rent” checks, to be sure that the person they are letting to has the right to live in the UK. You will need to show that you are either a British citizen or have the right to live in the UK, so be prepared to show your passport, driving license, visa, residence card or immigration status documentation.

Getting all the right paperwork together may sound like a palaver, but it’s easier than dealing with the consequences of not doing it! As well as being legal requirements, documentation shows that both parties are trustworthy and are covered in the event of problems arising. 

Rent property in Guildford

We have extensive experience of renting property in Guildford. If you have any questions about what documents you need, or anything else to do with renting property, please get in touch on 01483 457 000 and we’ll get you on the right track.