New Landlords: Start Your Letting Journey With Confidence

Your Essential Guide to Letting a Property Safely, Legally and Profitably

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Becoming a landlord can be exciting and rewarding — but it also comes with responsibilities that many first-time landlords are unaware of. Whether you're renting out a property you’ve inherited, relocating, or making your first investment, the process involves far more than simply finding a tenant.

At Bates & Co Estate and Letting Agents, we specialise in supporting new and accidental landlords across Hailsham, Eastbourne, Polegate and the wider East Sussex area.
Our downloadable New Landlords Pack offers a clear introduction to everything you need to know before letting your property. It covers essential legal requirements, compliance, tenant selection and early mistakes to avoid — without overwhelming you.

Why Being a New Landlord Is More Complex Than People Expect

Most new landlords are surprised not by the day-to-day work but by the legal responsibilities involved.

New Landlords Pack

From the moment you advertise a rental property, you must comply with strict legislation covering:

• Property safety
• Documentation
• Tenant rights
• Deposit handling
• Ongoing compliance checks

Missing even one requirement can result in fines, invalid notices, deposit penalties or legal disputes.
Our pack gives you a clear overview of what to expect — and how to avoid costly mistakes.

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What Every New Landlord Should Know

Below are key areas that new landlords must understand, all expanded in the downloadable guide.

We include only an overview here — the pack provides the full detail, checklists, legal requirements and practical examples.

1. Your Legal Responsibilities

A property must be legally safe and habitable throughout the tenancy.
Core obligations such as:

• Safety certification
• Deposit compliance
• Documentation deadlines
• Energy efficiency standards

This section in the pack explains what’s required, why it matters, and how to get it right.

2. Preparing Your Property for Market

A rental home must be more than “presentable.”
Our pack explains how proper preparation leads to longer tenancies, fewer disputes, and happier tenants.

This includes:

• Maintenance checks
• Safety checks
• Presentation standards
• Minimising costly issues later

3. Pricing the Rent Correctly

Setting the right rental price is critical — and new landlords often get it wrong.
Pricing must be based on market data and demand, not personal assumptions.

4. How to Find the Right Tenant

Tenant referencing is one of the most effective ways to prevent problems.
Referencing matters and understanding what should be checked is key.

Even the nicest applicants can struggle financially — referencing is about risk management, not judgement.

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5. Deposits & Compliance — The Biggest Trap for New Landlords

Deposit compliance is one of the most common reasons landlords lose possession cases.
Even small admin mistakes can invalidate a Section 21 notice (whilst they are still around).

Our downloadable guide details:

• How to protect deposits correctly
• What “prescribed information” means
• How to avoid compliance pitfalls

6. Should You Self-Manage or Use a Letting Agent?

Many new landlords start off self-managing to save costs —  However this can quickly become challenging.

Issues like arrears, maintenance disputes, tenant communication and legal updates require experience and emotional distance.

The guide explores the realities so you can make an informed decision.

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7. Your Management Options

Our pack outlines the three main landlord service levels.

• Let Only
• Rent Collection
• Full Management

It also briefly touches on Guaranteed Rent, which removes the risk of arrears entirely.

The pack explains the pros and cons of each without overwhelming new landlords.

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Download the New Landlords Pack

Your Essential Starter Guide for Letting a Property Safely and Successfully

The pack includes:

• Legal obligations explained
• Step-by-step preparation guidance
• Tenant selection advice
• Deposit & compliance guidance
• The realities of self-management
• Service options and what they really mean
• A full First-Year Landlord Checklist (page 7)
• Professional tips to avoid costly mistakes

Click HERE to download our FREE New Landlord Pack.