Leicester

Start your Rental MOT here!

Our MOT for landlords is a great FREE tool to check that everything in the complex world of lettings is fine in your rental property. At the end a score out of 100 (for a perfect compliant letting!) will immediately be sent to you. Just by you using the MOT to check the requirements you’ll be better equipped to find any issues. We’re here at the end of the phone if you want to discuss anything that gives you cause for concern, but there’s no obligation – this is a FREE service.

Will your letting property pass a "Rental MOT"?

This Smart Form will help you assess the many things that lettings regulations now require you to have in place. This also gives you a much greater prospect of success in the event of a tenancy dispute.

Do you currently have a tenancy, or one coming up? Or just looking for info?I have an existing lettingI have a letting starting soonI do not have a letting but want to explore the requirementsAny information is totally confidential, and it's fine just to be looking too!

When did/will your current letting start?:

This can be for an existing let, or for one that is coming soon. If you're just using the MOT for your info, use today's date.

Letting your property involves a heap of paperwork. Do you believe the paperwork is (or will be) in place?

Don't worry if you're not certain about ALL items - just answer as best you can or tick Not Sure as this helps guide us as to potential problems

Tenancy Agreement in writing and signed *YesNoNot sure

How to Rent Guide *YesNoNot SureA legal requirement to issue this...but some landlords aren't aware

Deposit Certificate *YesNoNot sureThis has been mandatory since April 2007

Prescribed Information *YesNoNot SureAnother legal requirement - not all landlords are aware of this

Energy Performance Certificate *YesNoNot sureDo you have evidence that this was issued to the tenant(s)?

Gas Safety Certificate *YesNoNot SureAnother key item for all tenancies

Inventory photographs *YesNoNot sureThese are not a legal requirement, but disputes depend on them

A signed inventory *YesNoNot sureWithout a (signed) inventory evidence of any damage would be hard to prove

Guarantor Agreement *Signed Guarantor AgreementNot applicableWe had one, but not renewedIs your guarantor a home-owner?

EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) *YesNoNot SureMandatory after Jul 1st 2020

Carbon Monoxide detectors *YesNoMandatory to install since October '22

Please note any issues you may be aware of

Do you have tenant signatures on all this core paperwork? *YesNoSome onlyWithout valid signatures from tenant(s) remedial action will be necessary (we can help!)

Now it's time to look at what happens after the initial tenancy term: changes may have occurred that require updating of documents.

If there have been changes in the tenancy, we need to check they've been handled correctly.

Are you still in the original agreement term, OR has the tenancy been renewed, OR has your tenancy now become a Periodic one? *Still in initial termNow in a new lease termPeriodic (i.e. a rolling) tenancyIf the tenancy has yet to start, or you're just exploring for your info, go with "still in initial term"

This question applies to tenancies that were Periodic prior to October 2015. Did you (or your agency) issue a new agreement and all accompanying paperwork in October 2018? *YesNoNot SureN/A - this does not apply to me/was not PeriodicUnder the Deregulation Act 2015 new compliance standards apply, affecting ALL tenancies after October 2018

Deposits are set at a maximum of five-week's rent (under legislation applying from 1st June 2019). If yours was ever higher, have you refunded the excess? *Five WeeksOriginal (higher) sumNot sureNot applicableIf you had an older deposit it will need to have been cut to five weeks: after May 2020 this is mandatory

And now a look at the details about the lettings documents

Dates and whether the documents below have been issued correctly are vital

What date was the Gas Safety done as issued at the start of the tenancy? *

Was this Gas Safety Certificate actually issued to the tenant(s) right at the start of the tenancy? *YesNoNot SureThe date on which the GSC was issued to each tenant is important legally

Have subsequent GSC's since the start of the tenancy (if applicable) been issued to the tenant(s) *YesNoNot SureDoes not apply - initial GSC in forceIf there is no evidence for having issued to tenants, please tick "Not Sure"

Where is your Security Deposit lodged? *DPS Custodial schemeTDS Insured schemeTDS Custodial schemeMy DepositsA deposit-free scheme (e.g. FlatFair)Deposit has not been lodgedNot sureI didn't take a depositSignificant fines apply if a deposit has not been lodged in one of the various schemes

What date was your EPC done?: (dd/mm/yyyy) *

(Tip) You can find your EPC here: https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate

What rating did your property achieve? *A - CD (will be below minimum from 2025)EF (below current minimum)Rules for minimum acceptable rankings will be significantly tightened - & if the current minimum has not been hit the property cannot be let AT ALL. We are accredited to do landlord EPC's - talk to us!

Did you (or your agent) carry out a Right to Rent Check? *YesNoDon't KnowYou or your agent have to establish the right of tenants to actually take on a rental - in effect, we have to be mini Border Guards!

Hopefully your tenancy is going well, but...

...if you have issues with the tenancy, there can be serious problems for landlords. Current repossession times are about one year

Are there rent arrears on the property?NoYes - 1 monthYes - 2 months or moreDon't KnowAny limited arrears (one month) need action: lengthier arrears can involve significant cost to recover

Have you, or your Agent if you have one, issued a Section 21 Notice or a Section 8 Notice? *No, not necessarySection 21Section 8Neither - but I need adviceThese are extremely complex processes: we can check the details for you before you incur Court expense

Is a Local Authority involved? For instance, has your tenant been advised to stay until evicted by Court Bailiffs?Yes, the tenant has been advised to stay putNo, does not applyIt is sadly all too common for Local Authorities to advise tenants to defy a Section 21 until the bailiffs are instructed, in order not to "make themselves intentionally homeless"

Do you have a Letting Agent managing the property?YesNo, I/we self-manageIs there a concern about your agent? If so, select thisLandlords often assume an unsatisfactory arrangement with an agent is something they are stuck with - this is generally not the case. Ask about our We-Switch-You plan

About You

A few details if your find that your "MOT score" needs our help

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

Phone

Postal CodePostcode of the rental property

Your personalised MOT score from your own information is below. If you want help and support with any issues at all just click submit , but there's no obligation to do so

The object of the exercise is not to produce right or wrong scores as such, but to help you in this complex process - ANY score below 100 shows something that needs attention. Hopefully the MOT enables you to pinpoint the issues. If you want help, our FREE initial consultation can identify solutions to the problem.

Your MOT Score!Here's your score. A perfect 100 would be a great result: but ANY other score is also fantastically useful for you. Hopefully the MOT pinpoints areas you now know to attend to - or contact us to help pin-point where the issues lie, and identify solutions.

Consent under GDPR *Yes, I agree with privacy policy,

Get a Property Expert to Fill Out the Form With You

If you want guidance on exactly what documents are needed for full compliance, our team can help. If it would help for us to walk you through the whole process instead, this is the perfect time.

Got a Question? Just Need Advice?

If you’re not ready to go through the whole MOT process – maybe you’ve not got all the paperwork you think is needed, or if you just need to talk through some issues - simply give us a call on 0116 271 7121

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For hassle free letting, get in touch:
Dimension House, 3 Westbridge Cl, Leicester LE3 5LW
0116 271 7121
leicester@northwooduk.com

Northwood (Leicester) Limited | Registered address: Dimension House, 3/4 Westbridge Close, Leicester, England, LE3 5LW | Registered in England & Wales | Company No. 04334498