Landlord FAQs
Questions landlords ask us
Straight answers about letting and managing a property in Peterborough. If your question is not here, message us on WhatsApp.
Our services and fees
What can Red Brick Lettings do for my property?
We work in three stages: let your property (preparation, marketing, tenant-find work, inventory and tenancy set-up), manage your tenancy (rent collection, monthly statements, communication and administration) and care for your property (maintenance coordination, safety certificates, licence applications, inventories and check-out reports).
How much do your services cost?
Tenant find is one month's rent. Rent collection only is 8% of the rent collected, and full management is 12% with no set-up fee; with either, finding a tenant is charged at the tenant find fee. We are not VAT registered, so no VAT is added. The fees page lists every charge.
What is a free rental valuation?
You answer a few short questions about your property. We recommend an asking rent and explain how we reached it. It is our recommendation, not a promise, and not a formal valuation for mortgage purposes.
How do I find out what my property could rent for?
Ask us for a rental valuation. We recommend an asking rent after looking at the home, its condition and what similar homes in Peterborough are letting for, and explain the reasons. It is a recommendation, not a promise.
Which areas do you cover?
We provide residential lettings and property management across Peterborough. If your property is nearby, send us the first part of the postcode and we will tell you whether we can help.
Can we meet in person?
Yes. Meetings are by appointment, so message us on WhatsApp on 07300 856675 to arrange a time.
Rules and paperwork
Does my Peterborough property need a licence?
It depends on the address and who lives there. Designated streets in ten wards are covered by selective licensing until 10 March 2029, and every HMO with three or more people needs a licence. Our licensing guides link to the council's pages, or we can check for you.
Which safety certificates does a rented home need?
In England: a gas safety check every year where there is gas, an electrical safety check at least every five years, a smoke alarm on each storey with living accommodation, a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers), and an Energy Performance Certificate rated E or above unless an exemption applies.
What happens to the tenant's deposit?
A tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks' rent where the annual rent is under £50,000. It must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days, and the tenant must be given the prescribed information.
Can I still end a tenancy with a section 21 notice?
No. Since 1 May 2026, section 21 "no fault" notices cannot be used in England. A landlord needs a legal reason, called a ground for possession, and must serve a section 8 notice with the right notice period – often four months.
How do rent increases work now?
Rent can be increased once a year using Form 4A, with at least two months' notice. Tenants can challenge an increase that is above the open market rent.
Day to day
How are repairs handled?
Report, triage, arrange, update, resolve. Tenants report to us, we assess and agree the priority, arrange the work, keep everyone informed and check it is resolved. Above an agreed limit we ask you first, except in emergencies, and you pay the contractor's invoice with no mark-up.
Can I change agent if tenants are living in the property?
Usually, yes. The tenancy carries on; what changes is who manages it. Our switching page explains the notice period, the documents, the deposit and how tenants are told.
General information for England, checked 28 September 2026. Not legal advice.