Letting a property can be a rewarding investment, but it also comes with important legal responsibilities.
In May 2026, the Private Rented Sector (PRS) saw some of the biggest changes in decades with the implementation of the Renters Rights Act, which places much greater emphasis on accountability for landlords and agents operating in the sector.
At MRKT Property Experts, we guide you through every stage of the process, ensuring your property is let efficiently, compliantly, and with confidence.
How The Process Works
Getting Your Property Ready
Before marketing your property, it’s important to ensure it is presented to a high standard and meets all current safety and legal requirements.
We can advise on presentation, furnishings, and any improvements that may help maximise rental value and attract suitable tenants.
We will also advise on carrying out the necessary compliance certifications and checks, as well as making sure the property is clean, safe, and ready for occupation.
Marketing Your Property
With an in-house team of experts, we can ensure your property is looking its best, and use a combination of professional photography, detailed property descriptions, and targeted marketing to ensure your property reaches the right audience including all the major property portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla and On The Market.
Our aim is to generate strong interest while attracting reliable, well-qualified tenants through a fair and transparent process.
Viewings and Offers
After launch, we will arrange and conduct viewings, keeping you informed of feedback and interest levels. We will pre-qualify all applicants to ascertain suitability, and once offers are received, we will negotiate on your behalf on all the things that matter including rent, and move in date.
All applications are handled in line with current legislation, ensuring fairness and consistency for all prospective tenants.
Referencing and Tenant Selection
Once a tenant is agreed upon, we will ask them to place a refundable holding deposit which once paid will take the property off of the market while we carry out a thorough referencing process to assess affordability and suitability. This may include employment checks, income verification, and previous landlord references where applicable.
Where appropriate, a guarantor may be considered, subject to affordability.
Our approach ensures that tenants are selected responsibly, while maintaining a fair and non-discriminatory process. There are not many situations we have not come across and our experienced agents will be well placed to offer solutions to everyone and guide you through this important process.
Tenancy Agreements
All tenancies are set up in line with current legislation.
From 1st May 2026, all standard residential lettings will be Assured Periodic Tenancies (APT), there are no more fixed term agreements as was previously the case. Tenants are protected from eviction for 12 months, but with the open agreements could give two months’ notice to vacate at any time. There are also specific rules for landlords looking to gain possession.
We ensure that your tenancy documentation reflects the latest legal requirements, and that all compliance documentation is served correctly.
There are exceptions in some circumstances, where for example a property may be let to a company in which case fixed term tenancies are permitted.
Our team of experts will be able to advise you on the best route for all circumstance.
Deposits
Tenant deposits are protected in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme in accordance with current legislation.
We handle the registration process and provide all required documentation, ensuring full compliance and transparency.
We are members of all three deposit schemes, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), myDeposits, and the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), and we can adapt our contracts to suit.
Compliance and Safety
As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring your property meets all legal safety requirements. These include:
- Gas Safety Certificate (renewed annually)
- Electrical Safety Standards (EICR) (renewed every five years)
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) (renewed every ten years)
- PAT Testing any portable electrical appliances left at the property.
- Smoke alarms on each floor Carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with fixed combustion appliances
- Legionella Risk Assessments where applicable.
We will guide you through these requirements and help ensure everything is in place before the tenancy begins.
Ongoing Management and services
If you choose our Core management service, we will act as your main point of contact throughout the tenancy. This includes:
- Rent collection
- Maintenance coordination
- Regular property visits
- Communication with tenants
Our goal is to ensure your property is well looked after while providing a professional and responsive service to tenants.
We also offer Lite (Rent Collection), and Basic (Tenant Find) services, as well as add ons such as Rent Protection insurance.
Other stuff you should know -
- You should check that you have consent to let the Property in particular from the Landlords’ mortgage lender and from the freeholder/head Lessee of the Property.
- Furniture left in a property, is your duty maintain and repair should it become faulty, provided of course, that this is not the result of negligence or malicious damage by the tenant.
Any soft furnishings which are left in the property must comply with The Fire and Furnishings Regulations being clearly labelled. If not, then the furnishings must be removed from the Property.
- You remain responsible for the insurance of the building(s) (mandatory) and your own contents (optional).
- You will still be responsible for ground rent, service charges, insurance premiums, mortgage payments or any other charges or sums due in relation to the Property.
- We highly recommend a professional, and independent inventory and checkout report at the start and end of a tenancy to guide on condition of the property both before and after the tenancy.
- Rental income is taxable, so it is important to seek independent advice on this matter to understand your circumstances.
- If you live overseas, we have an obligation in law to deduct tax from your rental income and submit a return to HMRC quarterly. It may be possible for you to obtain an exemption certificate which would entitle you to receive rent before tax.
- Generally, utilities such as gas, water, electric, and council tax are the responsibility of your tenant.
Staying Compliant in a Changing Market
Through our professional memberships, we stay up to date with all legislative developments to ensure your property remains compliant while protecting your long-term investment.
Keep upto date with matters in our blog, or by signing up to our mailing list.
Why Choose MRKT Property Experts?
We combine local market knowledge with a strong focus on compliance and professionalism.
Whether you are letting a property for the first time or expanding your portfolio, we provide a straightforward, reliable service tailored to your needs.
If you would like to discuss letting your property, our team is here to help.
Please contact us on 01202 554470, or send a valuation request here.
