From Autumn 2015 Landlords in Wales are required by Law to register themselves and their properties, this law will be enforceable from Autumn 2016. If you are involved with any part of the managing of the property you will also need to obtain a license. If your property is managed by an agent, the agent will be licensed on your behalf.

Failure to comply with the new laws could result in fines, rent repayment schemes and being unable to serve a Section 21 Notice on your tenant.

Please follow this link for further information and to register https://www.rentsmart.gov.wales/en/landlord/

As a landlord, you must ensure that all upholstered furniture, soft furnishings, beds, mattresses, pillows, cushions, headboards, loose and stretch covers for furniture and seat pads supplied to a property as part of a letting must comply with these regulations.

Exempted items are: curtains, carpets, bed linen, duvets, period and antique furniture manufactured before 1950.

All furniture purchased new since 1st March 1990 should comply – if it does it will have a safety label attached to it at the point of sale. If in doubt, the items should be removed.

For more information, you can download a copy of the regulations here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk

Under the above regulations, it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances (boilers, cookers, gas fires, pipework and flues) are maintained in good order and checked for safety at least every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Landlords are obliged to give their tenants a copy of this gas safety record within 28 days of it being carried out. The regulations also state that you must retain the gas safety record for a period of 2 years. All appliances in properties let by Porters must be checked for safety by a Gas Safe registered engineer annually on the anniversary of the previous inspection. For more information please visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk

As of 01 December 2022 Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations  All landlords in Wales must supply their tenants with an Electrical Safety Certificate which must be renewed every 5 years. Landlords have 12 months from December 2022 to comply with this regulation fitness-human-habitation-guidance-tenants-contract-holders-html

Smoke alarms

All From 01 December 2022 the  Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations  came into force. All landlords in wales need to ensure their properties meet the new legislation in order to be classified as 'fit for human habitation' or FFHH. New rules on  smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms  are stipulated as part of the regulations.

There are many financial issues which should be considered when letting property. All income generated from letting property in the UK is liable to UK tax, whether the Landlord lives in the UK or not. Rental income must be declared to the taxman using a Self-Assessment tax return. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) assesses income individually, so a tax return must be completed by each legal owner of the property. Income tax is payable on the profit generated by letting your property. However, certain allowable expenses can be deducted to minimise your liability.

Non-Resident Landlords

If you do not live in the UK, Porters are required by law to deduct Basic Rate Tax from rent received and pay this to the taxman, unless we have authorisation from them to pay rent to you without deducting tax.

If your usual place of abode is outside the UK, you will need to apply to HMRC under the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme to receive your rent from us without deduction of tax. Porters can provide you with the appropriate form or it can be downloaded from http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/

Individuals have a usual place of abode outside the UK if they usually live abroad. Individuals who leave the UK for over 6 months also have a usual place of abode outside the UK, even though their absence may be temporary and their local HMRC office continues to treat them as resident for tax purposes following their departure.

If your property is owned in joint names, you will both need to apply for approval to receive rent with no tax deducted. Once approval is granted by HMRC, we will be entitled to pay over rental income to you without deducting tax.

From 6th April 2007 legislation came into effect requiring that any landlord or agent who takes a deposit from a tenant for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy must safeguard it in an approved tenancy deposit scheme. Porters are a member of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, which is administered by The Dispute Service Ltd. For all Assured Shorthold Tenancies where we hold the deposit, it will be protected by this scheme. For more information about The Dispute Service please visit www.thedisputeservice.co.uk

From 1st October 2008, all rental properties are required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which rates the energy efficiency and environmental impact of your property on a scale from A to G. The EPC must be made available to prospective tenants before a new tenancy. The EPC will remain valid for 10 years.

Keeping your property in optimum condition will always pay dividends. Porters possesses vast experience, knowledge and enthusiasm that is entirely at your disposal. If you have any questions about refurbishing your property, just come and talk to us.

From one bedroom flats to six bedroom houses, we have an excellent track record in helping you maximise your rental potential.