How to Let Your Property in London: A Complete Guide for Landlords

Letting a property in London for the first time can feel like a long list of tasks with no obvious starting point. This guide walks you through the whole journey in order, from getting the property ready through to managing it once a tenant has moved in, so you can see how the pieces fit together. Think of it as the map; we have linked to more detailed guides at each stage where you may want to go deeper.

Step one: get the property ready and compliant

Before you market a property you need it to be safe, legal and presentable. The legal side is not optional, and the penalties for getting it wrong can be serious, so it is worth being methodical here.

At a minimum you will need the following in place before a tenant moves in.

• A valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which must be at least rating E
• A current Gas Safety Record, renewed every twelve months by a Gas Safe registered engineer
• An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), valid for up to five years
• Working smoke alarms on every storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance

Alongside the certificates, a quick programme of cleaning, minor repairs and neutral decoration usually pays for itself in a faster let and a better-quality tenant. First impressions in photographs and at viewings genuinely move the rent you can achieve.

Step two: set the right rent

Pricing is where many landlords either lose money by undervaluing or lose weeks of empty months by overreaching. The aim is to set a figure that reflects genuine local demand for a property of your type, condition and location, not the headline figure a portal suggests.

We look at what comparable homes have actually let for nearby, how your property compares on space and finish, and how quickly you need it occupied. For a fuller method, including how to read the market for your street, see our guide on how much rent you can charge in London.

Step three: marketing and viewings

Good marketing is mostly good preparation. Professional photographs, an accurate floorplan and a clear, honest description will draw more enquiries than any amount of clever wording. Listing across the major portals widens your reach, but the quality of the listing matters more than the number of sites.

Viewings are also a screening opportunity. A well-organised viewing schedule, with someone who knows the property and can answer questions sensibly, helps you find a tenant who is genuinely suited to the home rather than simply the first person to apply.

Step four: referencing and right to rent

Once you have an interested applicant, two checks protect you. Referencing confirms that the tenant can comfortably afford the rent and has a sound rental history. Right to Rent checks confirm they are legally entitled to rent in England, and these are a legal requirement, not a courtesy.

If an applicant is a strong fit but their income or history falls slightly short, a sensible route is a UK-based guarantor or a company or employer arrangement, rather than asking for unusual payment terms. Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 there are also clear limits on how you may treat applicants: you cannot discriminate against families with children or against people receiving benefits.

Step five: the tenancy agreement and deposit

The tenancy agreement is the document that governs the whole relationship, so it needs to be accurate and up to date with current law. Get the names, the rent, the start date and the responsibilities right, and keep a signed copy safely.

Your deposit is also regulated. It must be protected in a government-approved scheme within the required timescale, and it is capped at five weeks' rent, rising to six weeks where the annual rent is £50,000 or more. Protecting the deposit late or not at all can cost you dearly and can affect your ability to recover the property later.

Step six: ongoing management

Once a tenant has moved in, letting becomes a matter of steady administration: collecting rent, responding to repairs, keeping certificates renewed, and handling any rent review correctly. Under the new rules a rent increase can happen only once a year, with at least two months' written notice, and a tenant can challenge an unfair rise at tribunal.

You will also need to be registered with a government-approved redress scheme and the new PRS database, and to understand that Section 21 'no-fault' evictions have ended, with possession now available only through Section 8 grounds. Our overview of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 for London landlords explains these changes in plain terms, and if you would rather not handle the day-to-day yourself, our guide to what a letting agent actually does sets out where an agent can take the work off your hands.

If you are letting in London for the first time, or simply want a second pair of eyes before you start, do get in touch. A short conversation costs nothing, and we can help you work out where you stand and what to prioritise before the property goes live.