Inspections, Repairs and Maintenance

Essential repairs and maintenance should continue as long as the occupiers are not self-isolating.

Gas and electrical safety inspections should be completed as normal.

Fire alarm testing should continue in particular, communal hallways.

Routine periodic inspections simply checking the condition of a property may now be undertaken.

See the full government guidance about repairs and maintenance here.

Moving Home

Moving home is back to normal and allowed.

Tenants should continue to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their ability. The government has made a strong package of financial support available to tenants, and where they can pay the rent as normal, they should do. Tenants who are unable to do so should speak to their landlord at the earliest opportunity.

Source: Guidance for landlords and tenants

There is extensive support available.

Guidance for landlords and tenants is available here.

Under temporary Coronavirus provisions, face to face checking of a tenant’s right to rent has been amended to allow checking at a distance.

The following changes apply until and including 30 September 2022:

• landlords or agents can carry out checks over video calls
• tenants can send scanned documents or a photo of documents for checks using email or a mobile app; rather than sending originals,
• landlords should use the Landlord Checking Service if a prospective or existing tenant cannot provide any of the accepted documents

Checks continue to be necessary, and you must continue to check the prescribed documents set out in Landlords Guide to Right to Rent or use the Home Office right to rent online service. For the complete temporary Coronavirus guidance, please see here.