Going to rent house out - how early to start and what with?

YBR

Later this year I will be starting a new role and as part of that my family and I will be moving to a house that goes with that role. We have decided that to rent our current house out, and so become landlords.

We will get agents to manage it, and I'm aware that we will have to get up to speed on lots of stuff for which the Landlord is accountable. 

I'm looking for opinions on how far in advance we should:

* start selecting an agent;

* get an EPC done;
* get a Gas Safety Check done;

* get the EICR done;

* Join a Landlord's Association;

* anything else key, that I've missed ...

Also what order would be best - anticipating that we will need to do some work to the house before it goes on the market and the EPC/EICR/Gas check might reveal more (we plan to do after work after we've moved out but can't leave it empty long term).

For context, it's a 4/5 bed house in a university town near to schools; we're not looking at students because it's not a suitable area and I doubt we'd get the necessary HMO licence. There is no remaining mortgage; I expect to be in similar roles until retirement (~20 years) at which point we'd sell the current place to buy something to retire into (depending on rules/tax at the time we might move back for a period first).

Many thanks

FlorayG

join the NRLA or similar right now there is a lot to learn and you may find you don't actually want to rent it once you do. 
Find an agent now ( get personal recommendations, most of them are useless) and let them know when the house will become available and they will start looking for a tenant 6 weeks before the date so that anyone who has to give notice on their current property can do and will be ready to move in immediately
the EICR and EPC I would get done now as they are valid a long time and you think you may have to do work. The gas safety and boiler service has to be done every year so unless you suspect it needs work leave that until near the time

saajan_12

Start thinking about your target market, as that may have licencing implications which may mean some minor works and hence need planning. 
* Without a licence, you're restricted to a family in most areas. Can the average family afford the rent for a 4/5 bed in that area? But still at the point in life that they wouldn't be ready to buy? 
* For sharers do you have mostly good sized double rooms? The licence rules tend to be based on the number of people, so you could potentially meet the criteria for a certain number even if that's less than if you stuffed 2 people per room, in every room. 

theartfullodger

Get educated/trained.  Much cheaper and less painful than alternative (ignorance).

Do you have the financial and emotional reserves to cope with the agent-from-hell  (or tenant-from..) who doesn't pay rent for say 8 months whilst you pay mortgage, legal fees (to evict) and repair costs and tenant pops round and knocks on your door at 10:39pm? , (tenant legally entitled to your actual address).

Repairs?  Well if you don't repair things judge likely to decide you are harassing tenant and will favour tenant.

Good luck - you'll likely need it..

dinosaur66

for a first time landlord do not go HMO

you will get less money renting it to a family but way way less hassle

as you still live in the area get a tradesman /handyman recomendation from friends family or maybe a neighbour to do your repairs when they crop up and give the tenants  his card

someone like a kitchen /bathroom fitter who is self employed can usually do 90% of jobs that will pop up

and a local self employed boiler repair man/ one i use is also a plumber with no call out charge 

£45 saftey cert as opposed to £100 with agency

i would just use the agent as a tenant finder and let your trades sort out maintence and then get a friend to do an inspection twice a year to start and then 1 a year if tenants are good.

show tenants yourself how to repressurise the boiler and then write instructions down on a 4 paper and tape it to cupboard door

yes get the epc done straight away -takes about 2 weeks to book/ an hour to do and £120 approx i would guess for a 5 bed

just seen on a you tube landlord channel i watch that the 2030 deadline for exsisting tenancys to be a grade C if possible is being firmed up and new tenancys epc grade C coming in 2028 so 2 years earlier now with also ceiling being lifted from 10k to 15k for how much landlord has to spend to get it there.

gas saftey cert as i said £45 in my area by private white van men i am in essex

electric check lasts 5 years £150 i pay per check

i do not belong to any landlords association do not see the point / loads of you tube channels on being a landlord

despite the tv programmes most tenants are fine nice people / pick a white van man with family and you even get a tenant who can do his own repairs

if you have block paving / buy 100 bottles of white vinegar from lidl for a £30 and tell the tenants to just squeze it on the weeds when they appear to keep it looking nice.