Accidental landlord with an inherited property

Why it matters

Inherited properties often carry older certificates and long-standing tenants, which makes the first year of active management the riskiest.

Practical guidance

• Deal with lapsed safety records before anything else.
• Get an EPC reassessment after energy works — the paper rating is what counts.
• Attach comparables to a rent increase notice to reduce the risk of challenge.

The situation

The property came with an expired EPC, a gas safety record that had lapsed by four months, and a tenancy that had been running informally with no written agreement in place.

What changed

A gas safe engineer was booked immediately and the record served the same week. The EPC was reassessed after loft insulation and a new boiler, moving the property from F to C. A written rolling periodic agreement was signed by both parties, and a rent increase was proposed with two months notice and local comparables attached.

The result

The property became lettable and compliant, the rent moved to market level without a tribunal challenge, and the tenant stayed — largely because the increase arrived in writing with an explanation rather than as a surprise.