As a landlord, I need to understand my responsibilities regarding garden maintenance at my rental property and what I can and cannot charge tenants for. Additionally, I want to know the legal requirements for boiler servicing and when is the best time to arrange this. Provide a concise summary of these points.
Navigate to the NRLA website. Use the search functionality to find information related to 'landlord maintenance tips' or 'property maintenance for landlords'. From the search results, locate and open the article titled 'Essential Summer Property Maintenance Tips for Landlords: 5 Quick Checks' (or a similarly titled article about summer maintenance). Read the section titled 'Get clear on who is responsible for maintaining the garden' to understand garden maintenance responsibilities and tenant charging rules. Read the section titled 'Boilers and radiators' to identify legal requirements for servicing and recommended timing. Synthesize the information from both sections into a concise summary.
State that garden maintenance responsibility depends on the tenancy agreement, with the NRLA's Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement clarifying it as a landlord's responsibility. Confirm that landlords cannot charge tenants for gardening services due to the Tenant Fees Act. State that landlords are legally required to have all gas appliances (including boilers) inspected annually. State that summer is an ideal time to get the boiler serviced ahead of colder months.