1. Rent safely by doing your research
Your journey to rent safely and confidently starts well before house viewings. Before listing your room or property to rent, take time to find out about current market conditions. Look for similar properties to see how much they are charging and what is included in the rent. For example, are bills an extra cost for the tenant or included in the price.
When setting your rental price, remember that you might need to pay tax on rental income or pay for extra insurance cover.
2. Create an eye-catching listing
To save time wasting, be a descriptive as possible in your rental listing and include a wide variety of photos. Tip: did you know you can upload up to 20 images per listing?
Include everything you think a potential renter will want to know. The size of the room on offer and whether the space is furnished are a good start. Include the access the tenant would have to shared space and information about the location and local facilities. Also, make sure to read Gumtree’s property policies in addition to our regular posting rules to ensure what you are advertising is allowed on our platform.
Tip: We recommend keeping all communication on the Gumtree platform where we can moderate replies and step in if needed. If a reply to your ad raises suspicion, click the Report button and we’ll investigate.
3. Always think safety-first when arranging viewings
Once you have communicated with your potential tenant(s) and are satisfied they are genuine, you will need to arrange a time for a viewing of your home. We recommend scheduling viewings during daylight hours and to have a trusted friend / family member with you. Remember, the person will still be a stranger. Normal precautions should be taken when inviting someone you don’t know into your home.
Tip: Consider collecting references / getting background checks before agreeing the tenancy.
4. Be aware of new responsibilities to rent safely
If you’re looking to rent out a room or your home as a whole, you need to be aware of all responsibilities this might bring and whether your home will be considered as a ‘house in multiple occupation‘ (HMO). At a very basic level, you will need to keep the property safe and in good repair. However, landlords are legally obliged to undertake a number of tasks. This includes yearly gas safety checks and providing electrical installation reports. In England, landlords must also carry out Right to Rent checks in line with the Immigration Act.
If you are thinking of becoming a resident landlord (ie. living in the same property as your tenants), the UK government has a practical guide on how to successfully let individual rooms in your home.
5. Do I need to protect the tenant’s deposit?
Renting out your home on an assured shorthold tenancy? You must put the tenant’s deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme (TDP). Find out more on the UK government’s website here.
