ARLA Level 3 Residential Letting & Property Management key terms

The legal obligation on a landlord and letting agent to take reasonable steps to keep tenants, visitors and contractors safe from foreseeable harm connected with the property.

A recorded process of identifying hazards in a property, judging who could be harmed and how, and setting out control measures to reduce that risk to an acceptable level.

Any condition, substance or activity in or around a property that has the potential to cause injury, ill health or damage, such as loose stair carpet or a faulty electrical socket.

The standard requiring a rented dwelling to be safe, healthy and reasonably suitable to live in, judged against matters such as repair, damp, ventilation, drainage and natural light.

The landlord's statutory duty to keep in repair the structure and exterior, installations for water, gas, electricity and heating, and sanitary fittings, having regard to the age and character of the property.

A record issued by a registered gas engineer after inspecting every gas appliance and flue in a rented property, confirming they are safe to use and identifying any defects.

A device that sounds when dangerous levels of carbon monoxide are detected, required in rooms containing a fixed combustion appliance and commonly fitted in rooms with solid fuel burners.

A periodic inspection and testing report on a property's fixed wiring and electrical accessories, grading defects and confirming whether the installation is safe for continued use.

The inspection and electrical testing of movable appliances and equipment supplied with a let property, such as kettles or freestanding heaters, to confirm they are safe.

A document rating a dwelling's energy efficiency on a scale from A to G, showing estimated running costs and recommendations, which must be given to prospective and new tenants.

The rule that a privately rented dwelling must normally reach at least band E on its energy certificate before it can be let, with limited registered exemptions.

A property occupied by several households who share amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom, attracting extra fire safety, amenity and management duties and often requiring a licence.

An authorisation from the local authority permitting a house in multiple occupation to be occupied, subject to conditions on management, safety and maximum occupancy.

The test applied to landlords, agents and licence holders considering honesty, competence, financial standing and any relevant convictions, including offences involving violence, fraud or discrimination.

The measures taken to prevent fire, detect it early and allow safe escape, including alarms, protected escape routes, fire-resisting doors and clear communal areas.

The route or routes by which occupants can leave a building safely in a fire, which must be kept unobstructed, adequately lit and protected from smoke and flame.

The requirement to safeguard a tenancy deposit in a government-approved scheme within a set time and give the tenant the prescribed information about the scheme used.

The specified details about a tenancy deposit and the scheme protecting it that must be given to the tenant and any relevant person within the required period.

The check that a landlord or agent must carry out to confirm prospective occupiers have permission to live in the country before granting a tenancy.

A notice a landlord may serve to regain possession of an assured shorthold tenancy without proving fault, valid only if legal preconditions such as deposit and safety requirements are met.

A notice seeking possession of an assured or assured shorthold tenancy on specified grounds, such as rent arrears or antisocial behaviour, which a court must then consider.

The statutory reasons on which a landlord can rely to recover a property during or after a tenancy, each with its own notice period and evidence requirements.

Money held as security against a tenant's breach of the tenancy, such as unpaid rent or damage beyond fair wear and tear, and returnable subject to lawful deductions.

The reasonable deterioration of a property and its contents through normal everyday use over time, which a tenant is not expected to make good at the end of the tenancy.

A documented record of the property's contents and their condition at the start of a tenancy, used later to judge what has changed and support any deposit deductions.

A record compiled at the end of a tenancy comparing the property's condition with the inventory and noting cleaning, damage and missing items to inform deposit negotiation.

The most common form of private residential tenancy in England, giving the tenant security for a fixed or periodic term while allowing possession to be recovered on proper notice.

The contract between landlord and tenant setting out the parties, the property, the rent, the term and the rights and obligations of each side.

A tenancy that rolls on from one rent period to the next, such as week to week or month to month, without a fixed end date, ending only on proper notice.

A payment taken to reserve a property while referencing is completed, which must be returned or credited to the tenancy unless a permitted reason to retain it applies.

The checks made on a prospective tenant's identity, affordability, credit history, employment and previous landlord record before a tenancy is offered.

Rent that has fallen due and remains unpaid, which may trigger recovery action and can support a possession claim once the relevant threshold and notice requirements are met.

A scheme that reimburses landlords and tenants if an agent misappropriates or loses money they hold, such as rent or deposits, and which agents must belong to and display evidence of.

A separate bank account used by a letting agent to hold money belonging to clients, kept apart from the agent's own funds and reconciled regularly.

An independent dispute resolution service that agents must join so that landlords and tenants can complain about service or conduct without going straight to court.

The day-to-day running of let property on a landlord's behalf, covering maintenance, inspections, rent collection, compliance records and communication with tenants.

A formal notification from a tenant or local authority identifying repairs the landlord is obliged to carry out, which can be used as evidence if the work is not done.

Conduct by a tenant or their visitors that causes or is likely to cause nuisance, annoyance or distress to others, which may support possession action or other remedies.