1. Confirm authority and the intended letting
- Record the legal owner and the authority of anyone instructing on their behalf.
- Confirm the property is a whole house or flat in England and the intended occupation fits the initial service.
- Check lender, lease, insurer and local-licensing requirements where relevant.
- Choose a specific proposed rent; do not invite rental bidding above it.
2. Gather evidence before copy
- Current EPC entry or evidence that an EPC has been commissioned, plus any valid exemption needed for the minimum standard.
- Council-tax band and address-based licensing position.
- Gas, electrical and alarm status for the landlord’s own compliance workflow.
- Deposit figure, furnishing, availability, utilities/heating, parking and accessibility facts.
- Any known issue likely to affect a reasonable applicant’s decision.
3. Build an honest photograph set
- Use current, sharp images with a level camera and uncluttered rooms.
- Include every bedroom and the bathroom, not only the best rooms.
- Show outside space, approach, parking and material limitations where useful.
- Keep AI-generated or illustrative images out of a live property listing.
4. Approve a single source of truth
Read the rent, deposit, date, address area, room count, furnishing, council tax and EPC twice. Record what came from the landlord, what was checked against a named source and what remains unresolved. Approve the final wording and image order before submission.
5. Keep post-advert duties separate
Advertising is only the start. The landlord or a separately appointed competent agent still needs a lawful applicant process, Right to Rent, the required written tenancy information, any permitted deposits and protection, safety duties, repairs and ongoing management. This checklist is not a legal or safety certificate.