Leaseholders

Subletting your property

You don’t need our permission to rent out your flat, but you must let us know if you do and provide up-to-date contact details for you and your tenants.

This is in case we need to contact you urgently about your tenant’s behaviour or a repair that needs doing. We can also keep you informed of changes that could affect you or your tenants, such as major-works proposals or changes in our management arrangements.

You will be responsible for your tenant’s behaviour. This means ensuring they comply with the terms of your lease and use your property responsibly, for example not playing loud music, obstructing passageways or causing a nuisance to other residents.

You must tell our buildings insurer and your home contents insurer if you are going to rent your home to tenants. If you do not do so, any claim you make may be refused.

Under your lease you must write to us with details of your tenants within 1 month of starting the rental.

You can do several things to avoid problems when renting out your home.

You should regularly inspect your property to ensure it is in good condition and is being used responsibly. You must give clear instructions to your tenant about using your property. Ensure that they know:

• arrangements for reporting repairs
• how to use fixtures and fittings – for example heating systems, baths and showers, and window blinds or locks
• arrangements for disposing of rubbish
• arrangements for looking after the garden
• arrangements for contacting you or your agent in an emergency – you are legally required to give your tenants an address in England or Wales for mailing notices to you.

If you are renting out your flat and it has its own gas boiler, you must by law ensure the boiler has an annual safety inspection and is certified fit for purpose.

The contractor who inspects our gas boilers has agreed to offer the same service for our leaseholders. If you wish to use this service call our ‘repairs4you’ line freephone 0800 40 80 160. The charge for this service is not part of your annual service charge so you must pay the contractor directly.