TL;DR: Letting out a property in South London can feel overwhelming, whether you’re a first‑time landlord or simply new to the area, but with the right preparation it can be straightforward and rewarding. You’ll need to make sure your legal certificates and paperwork are in place, set a rental price that balances income with attracting reliable tenants, and address any maintenance issues early to avoid bigger problems later. And if you want clarity on pricing, compliance, or demand in your neighbourhood, a local expert can help you feel confident and fully prepared before you list your property.
Landlord checklist: what to do before letting out your South London property
If you’re thinking about renting out a property for the first time, it can feel like a daunting as well as exciting project. Or maybe you’re a seasoned landlord, but new to the South London area, which can raise a lot of questions.
The truth is, it is a tough time to be a landlord, but with the right foundations and the right advice, it’s a lucrative and satisfying path.
Here are the most important steps to follow and things to consider when you start renting, to make sure you’re compliant, prepared, and maximising the revenue from your property.
Legal certificates and obligations
Inevitably, there is some red tape to navigate. Here is a top-level look at the certificates and licences you’ll have as a landlord.
- Deposit protection. You will need be able to prove that the tenant’s deposit will be held in a government-approved deposit scheme.
- EPC. An energy performance certificate demonstrates to prospective tenants how energy efficient the property is.
- A Gas Safety Certificate that proves gas appliances are safe for use.
- An Electrical Installation Condition Report confirming the safety of the wiring and electrical system.
- Council letting licence (if applicable). Some properties require a licence from the local council, such as a mandatory HMO licence or an additional or selective licence.
Of course, you’ll also need the inventory to log the property’s condition at the start of the tenancy, and the tenancy agreement that sets out the terms of the rental.
For specifics about the practicalities of landlord paper work, especially with the Renters’ Rights Bill in mind, it is always helpful to speak to a professional.
Setting the right rental price
While it’s easy to do some quick research and get a sense of how much similar properties in your area fetch on the rental market, it’s slightly more complicated to find the balance between maximum return on your property investment, and a rate that will attract interest and high-quality tenants.
The London Rents Map shows average monthly rental prices for different homes in different areas of London, although, there can be immense value in an expert opinion from a property professional who knows the area and has experience with rental valuations and listings.
One way to do this is by booking a free property valuation. These optimise rental income, and keep you informed on market value; especially when conducted by an expert within the local area.
Reducing maintenance issues and tenant churn
If you have just bought a buy-to-let property, you may not have much appetite for further investment, but it’s well worth assessing whether the property requires any maintenance and taking care of that before renting it out.
There is a legal obligation for landlords to fix repairs once you have been made aware of them. Sometimes this will come from tenants raising issues, or you can simply inspect the property ahead of time, with regular inspections in place, to ensure problems are solved sooner rather than later.
It might be something cosmetic, or something more fundamental, but if you can prevent repeated requests, or costs and complaints later (or even legal action down the line) if you can address something now that may deteriorate later.
That will also improve the tenant experience, helping you keep high-quality tenants for longer.
Partner with a letting agent
Whether this is your first property in the area, or your first property you are letting, everything is simpler and smoother when you share the load; especially in a fast-moving market like South London.
You can benefit from accurate rental pricing, better tenant quality, reduced legal and compliance risk, quicker tenant responses, and complete avoidance of difficult conversations.
You can also benefit from professional marketing and wider reach, alongside managed maintenance issues (if you opt for this service), ultimately helping your property let faster, and problems resolved quicker.
If you’d like clear, local guidance on letting your South London property, our team is always here to help.
Get in touch with the Urban Village team to talk through your plans, ask questions, or book tailored landlord support, here.