Question 1

How does contractor verification work?

Accepted Answer

Sign up as a contractor and submit: Public liability insurance certificate Trade qualifications (Gas Safe, NICEIC, etc. where relevant) Company / sole trader details and VAT status Service areas and rates Once approved you'll appear in the landlord directory. All documents are stored securely and only shared with landlords who request your services.

Question 2

How do I list my trade and get jobs?

Accepted Answer

Create a contractor profile and add the trades, postcodes and certifications you cover. Once verified you'll appear in landlord searches and receive job invitations. You only pay when you accept work — there's no monthly fee.

Question 3

What insurance do contractors need?

Accepted Answer

At a minimum, Public Liability insurance is required. Gas Safe and NICEIC trades must also upload their current certification. Upload your policy in the Documents tab — we'll remind you 30 days before it expires.

Question 4

Renters' Rights Act — what changed and what it means for you

Accepted Answer

The Renters' Rights Act ends Section 21 "no-fault" evictions, caps rent in advance to one month, bans rental bidding wars, and gives tenants a stronger right to request pets. DR Rent is built around these rules: our listing forms block non-compliant terms, our contracts use the new periodic tenancy by default, and our compliance hub keeps your certificates current. Read our plain-English guide on the blog.

Question 5

GDPR: how do I access or delete my data?

Accepted Answer

Under UK GDPR you have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data. Download my data: from settings, request an export — we'll email a copy within 30 days Delete my account: from settings, choose Delete. We soft-delete with a 30-day grace period, then erase your personal data Marketing preferences: opt out at any time from your profile Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Question 6

Is DR Rent free to use?

Accepted Answer

Tenants never pay to search, save or message about a property. Landlords pay only when they unlock a verified lead or upgrade for premium visibility. Contractors pay only when they accept a job.

Question 7

How do I list a property?

Accepted Answer

From your dashboard click Add property. You'll need: Address and key details (bedrooms, bathrooms, type) Rent (PCM) and deposit Photos (JPG/PNG up to 10MB each) EPC rating, Gas Safety, and EICR information Listings go live as soon as you publish. The Renters' Rights Act prohibits asking for rent in advance beyond one month and bidding wars — DR Rent enforces this in the form.

Question 8

What does it cost to unlock a tenant lead?

Accepted Answer

Browsing tenant requirements is free. To unlock a tenant's contact details and start messaging, landlords pay a small one-off lead fee via Stripe. There's no monthly subscription required. You only pay for the tenants you want to talk to. Receipts and an unlock history are kept for your records.

Question 9

Landlord compliance: EPC, Gas Safety, EICR — what do I need?

Accepted Answer

Every let in England requires: Valid EPC (rating E or above; rises to C from 2028 for new tenancies) Annual Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) where there are gas appliances Five-yearly EICR (electrical safety report) Deposit protection in a government-approved scheme within 30 days Right to Rent checks on all adult occupants Upload each certificate against your property and we'll remind you before they expire.

Question 10

How do I track EPC, Gas Safety and EICR renewals?

Accepted Answer

Upload each certificate against the property in your dashboard. DR Rent reads the expiry date and sends you reminders 60, 30 and 7 days before renewal. All documents are stored in your audit trail — handy if a tenant or local authority ever requests proof.

Question 11

Can I refund a tenant lead?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If a lead is invalid, duplicate, or unresponsive within 7 days, request a refund from the lead's detail page and it's credited back to your DR Rent wallet automatically. We review refund requests within one working day.

Question 12

How do I sign up as a tenant?

Accepted Answer

Click Sign up and choose Tenant. You'll need an email and password — it takes under a minute. After signing up you can complete your profile, add your rental requirements (location, budget, move-in date), and start receiving matches from verified landlords. It's free for tenants. There are no application fees, no agent fees, and no hidden charges.

Question 13

How does tenant verification work?

Accepted Answer

Verification confirms who you are and helps landlords trust your enquiry. Verify your email and phone Confirm your Right to Rent status (UK law requires this before any tenancy starts) Optional: connect referencing or affordability checks for faster approvals Verified tenants get a green badge and typically receive replies much faster because landlords know your enquiry is genuine.

Question 14

How do I post my rental requirements?

Accepted Answer

Your search profile is what landlords see — make it specific: Location: borough, postcode, or commuting distance Budget per calendar month Bedrooms and property type Move-in date A short note about you (job, household, pets) Landlords with matching properties can message you directly, and you'll see new listings as they go live.

Question 15

How do landlords contact me? Is my info private?

Accepted Answer

Your phone number and email are never shown publicly. Landlords contact you through DR Rent's in-app messaging. When a landlord pays to unlock your lead, they see only the details you've chosen to share. You can stop messages at any time, and we keep an audit log of every contact under UK GDPR.

Question 16

What ID do I need to pass Right to Rent?

Accepted Answer

UK and Irish citizens can prove Right to Rent with a passport or a combination of documents such as a driving licence plus a birth certificate.

Question 17

How do I save properties and get alerts?

Accepted Answer

Tap the heart icon on any listing to save it to your shortlist. Then turn on instant alerts in your preferences to get notified the moment a matching property goes live. You can also save your search filters so new matches appear at the top of your dashboard.

Question 18

Can I book multiple services together?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer bundled services so you can combine EPC, PAT testing, inventory reports, photography and floor plans in a single visit to save time and money.

Question 19

How quickly are reports delivered?

Accepted Answer

Most reports — including EPCs, inventories and PAT testing — are delivered within 24–48 hours of the visit, straight to your dashboard.

Question 20

Do I need to be present during the visit?

Accepted Answer

An adult must normally provide property access. It doesn't have to be you — a tenant, agent or keyholder can grant access on your behalf.

Question 21

Can I download old reports?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All your reports and certificates remain accessible from your customer dashboard at any time, so you can re-download them whenever you need.

Question 22

How long does an EPC take?

Accepted Answer

Most EPC assessments take between 20–60 minutes, depending on the size and layout of the property.

Compliance FAQ

Property compliance questions and answers

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