Re-renting
Re-renting is the process of letting a property to a new tenant after the previous tenancy has ended. It covers everything from advertising and viewings through to referencing, drafting the new agreement and check-in.
The key is to make sure the old tenancy has lawfully ended and you have vacant possession before the new tenant’s agreement starts. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, that usually means either:
The tenant has given valid notice and moved out,
You have agreed a documented deed of surrender, or
You have obtained and enforced a possession order on one of the statutory grounds.
Re-renting is also the point where many compliance duties reset. Before marketing you should confirm that:
Safety checks, including gas, electrical, alarms, are in date.
The property is fit for human habitation and meets rental standards, including damp and mould, and energy efficiency rules.
Any deposit and rent for the new tenant will be handled in line with permitted payments, deposit caps and protection rules.
If the previous tenant left early, any “re-letting costs” you claim from them must be based on actual, evidenced loss, not double charging. Once a new tenant moves in and pays rent, you cannot generally keep charging the outgoing tenant for the same period.
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