Landlords: Five Things to Check This Summer

🏡 County Durham Landlords: Five Things to Check This Summer

Keep your rental running smoothly across Shotley Bridge, Consett and the surrounding County Durham villages

Summer is a natural pause point for landlords. Tenants are settled, the weather's better, and it's a good moment to get ahead of jobs before the autumn rush arrives. With so much change already this year under the Renters' Rights Act, a quick mid-year check can save a lot of stress later on.

For landlords across Shotley Bridge, Consett and the surrounding County Durham area, here are five things worth doing before the summer is out.

🔥 1) Book your safety checks early

Gas safety certificates, electrical inspections and smoke alarm checks are easy to leave until they're urgent. Booking now avoids the fuss of chasing an engineer in October when everyone else is doing the same thing.

🌿 2) Sort out the garden and outdoor spaces

Even if your tenants are responsible for day-to-day upkeep, it's worth checking fences, drainage and any shared areas haven't been neglected over a busy spring.

Summer is also a great opportunity to spot smaller maintenance issues before the colder, wetter months arrive.

🔑 3) Plan ahead for a summer changeover

If a tenancy is coming to an end, summer is often when families move to be settled before the new school year. Give yourself enough lead time to reference new tenants properly and avoid a rushed decision.

A little forward planning can make the changeover much smoother for everyone involved.

📈 4) Review how you handle rent increases

Under the Renters' Rights Act, increases must go through a Section 13 notice, can only happen once every twelve months, and need at least two months' notice.

Make sure your process reflects this before you next need to use it.

📋 5) Revisit your insurance and compliance paperwork

With EPC requirements and reporting obligations continuing to evolve, a summer review keeps you ahead of changes rather than reacting to them at the last minute.

None of this needs to take long, but a little attention now tends to save a great deal of hassle when the busier months arrive.

At Harrington Brown, we support landlords across Shotley Bridge, Consett and the wider County Durham area with straightforward, practical advice and experienced property management. Whether it's keeping on top of paperwork, preparing for a new tenancy or simply making sure your rental is running as smoothly as possible, our team is here to help.

📞 Want a summer health check for your rental property?

If you'd like a hand reviewing your property, tenancy arrangements or paperwork before the busier months arrive, speak to the Harrington Brown team today.

👉 Get in touch today: https://www.harrington-brown.co.uk/contact/