“But I thought that was sorted…”

It is a phrase we understand.

You book the contractor, the inspection happens, you pay the invoice – another job ticked off between work, family and everything else life throws at you. Except sometimes the job isn’t quite finished.

During our recent webinar, we shared examples including an expired Gas Safety Record, an EPC that could not be produced and an electrical inspection report bearing the wrong property address.

In that last example, a WhatsApp message offered reassurance that the report related to the right property, but the report itself still needed correcting.

Nobody sets out to collect paperwork for the wrong house. The problem is knowing what to check and finding the time to check it.

Confidence is comforting. Evidence is better.

Our first poll asked attendees how confident they were that their tenancy was compliant.

The most popular answer? “Fairly confident” with some details needing checking.

That feels honest. Most owners do not spend their evenings studying lettings legislation. They want their property to run smoothly, their residents to be happy and the rent to arrive.

But a quiet tenancy can hide a paperwork problem.

No complaints does not necessarily mean no gaps

By the end of the webinar, safety records and contractor advice topped the list of things attendees planned to check, followed by tenancy documents and notices.

That is a useful result: owners leaving with something practical to do.

The locks question that caught people out

One question prompted a particularly important discussion and most people got the answer wrong: changing the locks.

It might feel understandable when rent is unpaid or you believe a resident should already have left. It is your property, after all, but ownership does not give you the right to lock someone out of their home.

For an ordinary assured residential tenancy, changing the locks to exclude a resident without following the lawful possession process can amount to illegal eviction under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.

An expired notice or unpaid rent does not remove those protections. Where necessary, the court and authorised enforcement process must be followed. Getting it wrong can expose an owner to prosecution and financial claims.

Please speak to someone before taking that step.

You shouldn’t have to guess

Since 2005, we have helped owners in St Ives, Huntingdon and across Cambridgeshire navigate the responsibilities that come with letting a home.

Our approach is to ask the next question.

Does the certificate match the property? Does the report require further work? Where is the evidence that it was completed?

That is how our takeover reviews uncovered those gaps: by looking beyond the tick in the box.

The opportunity is to find problems while you can plan your response, rather than when a dispute exposes them.

How would you feel knowing exactly what needs attention and what is already in order?

Call the Maxine Lester team on 01480 494939 to discuss a tenancy health check. No judgement. Just Expert, Honourable and Personal support to help you move forward with confidence.