What Are Your Responsibilities As A Landlord?

Entering the world of property investment can be like visiting a foreign country and it can take some time to understand the local lingo.

When it comes to buy-to-let investing, it is important that you make sure you know your duties as a landlord before you start searching for the perfect tenants.

Getting all the facts straight at the beginning is the best way to ensure all your obligations under the tenancy agreement are met.

Before renters move in, it is your responsibility to pay for the costs of setting up gas and electricity supplies for the house.

If the tenants pay these set-up costs, then as the landlord, you must refund this money to them as soon as possible, although most tenancy agreements specify that the tenants will be responsible for paying ongoing bills once a connection has been established.

One of the landlord's major tasks is to maintain the home throughout the entire length of the tenancy.

This includes providing locks for all the doors and making sure all the window latches are secure.

You must give tenants at least 24 hours' notice of any visit to the property and usually you need to request an arranged visit in writing.

The frequency of property inspections will vary depending on what state your property is located in - but as a general rule, the first inspection will not take place until at least three months into the tenancy agreement.

With so many things to consider when it comes to renting your property, you may prefer to leave the hard work in the hands of the experts.

An experienced property manager can help with the screening process to find reliable tenants, and can even arrange for repairs to be made on your behalf.

A property manager can also be a valuable asset in the event of any conflict with your tenant - with a sound knowledge of property law and the ability to remove emotions from the process, they can help you achieve a swift and fair resolution.