Ceredigion County Council website

You may wish to retain the ownership of the property but to let it to tenants. It is worth remembering the work involved in being a landlord and managing a house. You will be responsible for its maintenance and will need to arrange things like annual gas safety checks.

You can find more information in our Landlord Zone section.  All landlords of properties in Wales must now be registered with Rent Smart Wales. There are many laws and regulations to consider.

Becoming a Landlord

There are a number of ways of renting out your property. You could place your own advert in a local paper, shop window or use social media and manage the property yourself.

It’s not a bad idea to join a landlords organisation. They can provide advice, support and regular information that keep you up to date. They can also provide training as well as discounts on products and services.

Any self-managing landlord in Wales is legally required to be both registered and licenced with Rent Smart Wales and to complete relevant training. For more information about Rent Smart Wales visit the Rent Smart Wales website or call 03000 133344.

Letting / Managing Agents

You may prefer to get somebody else to manage the property for you.  There are a number of property letting agents in Ceredigion who will, for a fee, find tenants, collect rent, deal with queries and arrange maintenance.  Please contact a managing agent to find further information on the services they can provide and the fees they charge.

Private Sector Leasing Schemes

The Private Rented Leasing Scheme Wales is a Welsh Government backed pilot scheme as delivered by Ceredigion County Council.

The scheme offers private landlords a range of benefits including; a lease agreement for a period of 5 years or more subject to conditions, a full property management package including repairs and maintenance with a guaranteed rental income even when the property is not occupied by a tenant/contract-holder.

The scheme provides ongoing housing support to the tenant/contract-holder, helping them gain greater independence and sustain a successful tenancy.

The scheme aims to improve access to long-term affordable and good quality housing, with tenancy support in the private rented sector. Delivering security for the tenant/contract holder and confidence for landlords.

The scheme will offer a range of support services and benefits to the tenant/contract-holder and to the private landlord. The aim is to make the tenancy successful for both parties.

Further details and contact information can be found on our Leasing Scheme Wales page.

Licencing

If you rent out your property to more than two persons in separate households (for instance there are three single persons living at the property as friends, or a couple and one other friend) then the property may be subject to the Council’s licencing scheme.  This means the property would have to conform to amenity, fitness and fire standards.  In addition the licence-holder and manager of the property must be a fit and proper person.  The council would carry out checks to establish these things prior to issuing a licence.  For more information on licencing, please visit our Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) pages.

Living Conditions

Anyone who decides to let their property should make sure it is clean, dry and safe. It should have an electricity supply and the plumbing and central heating checked for safety. Faulty gas appliances can be fatal and therefore the landlord has a legal obligation to maintain these and get them checked for safety on an annual basis. The kitchen should be of a reasonable standard with safe facilities for storing and preparing food.  If there is a problem with poor facilities when you let, these are likely to get worse.

All Councils have a duty to ensure residents are not living in sub-standard accommodation.  Councils will use the Housing Health and Safety Rating System under the Housing Act 2004 to carry out a risk assessment on any property where there may be potential risks.  Often the council can be made aware of problems at a property by the tenants. 

Some of the usual health and safety risks identified at a property are damp and mould, coldness, trips and falls and fire risks.  As a landlord it would be your responsibility to ensure any risks are minimised.  Once a risk was identified the Council would work closely with you to ensure compliance.  If there was no cooperation the Council can use its powers under the Housing Act 2004 to ensure work is carried out.

For more information on what standards are expected and on the Housing Health and Safety Rating System please visit the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) page.