Would your rental property pass an MOT?

Drivers get their cars inspected every year for an MOT. A new initiative is encouraging private landlords to do the same for their rental properties. This guest blog from Leeds Rental Standard explains how and why you should get involved.

Did you know that this month is the very first Property MOT Month?

To mark the occasion, private landlords across Leeds and beyond will conduct seven simple checks on their properties – giving them a host of benefits, from peace of mind to saving money.

At Leeds Rental Standard, we work with landlords to raise standards in the private rented sector. We launched Property MOT Month after our research discovered a disconnect. Some private landlords assume that if they don’t hear from their tenants, everything must be OK with their properties. However, sometimes tenants don’t feel able to report issues, for a variety of valid reasons. This means problems can go unnoticed, potentially leading to negative consequences down the line – from unhappy tenants to issues that become more expensive to fix.

Property MOT Month aims to solve this problem by encouraging private landlords like you to check your properties ahead of the colder winter months. By doing so, you’ll protect your investment and create better conditions for your tenants.

 We’ve made it simple by suggesting 7 things to look for:

1. Are the floors, walls and ceilings in good decorative condition?
2. Are there any signs of damp and mould on the internal walls & ceilings?
3. Do all fire alarms have working batteries?
4. Do all windows and doors lock securely?
5. Is the heating and hot water working as it should?
6. Are all sockets and switches functioning and in a good condition?
7. Are there any signs of leaks coming from taps or appliances?

By visiting www.propertymotmonth.uk, you can download your FREE seven-step checklist to make your inspection easy. 

Property MOT Month is brought to you by Leeds Rental Standard. It’s supported by Unipol and NRLA and has been funded by the UK Government. To find out more, visit propertymotmonth.uk.

The views expressed in this content are solely those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent the views of TDS, its officers, or employees. To read more on TDS views, visit our Policies & Procedures webpage.

About TDS

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme is part of The Dispute Service (TDS), the largest tenancy deposit protection (by value) and resolution service provider in the UK making life easier for tens of thousands of agents, landlords, developers, and millions of tenants and homebuyers.

Our award-winning customer service is highly rated on both Trustpilot and Google, and we’re backed by the NRLA. We offer free deposit protection in our Custodial scheme, and the lowest rates for landlords in our Insured scheme.