As Landlord of a residential property you have a duty of care to your tenant and you must comply with all relevant health and safety legislation. Below we have listed the main regulations to be aware of and some general safety tips. We require all properties to meet relevant safety standards before a tenant moves in.
All appliances including boilers, fires and cooking appliances must
be tested to ensure they do not emit noxious gases and that flues are
in a good and sound condition. The test must be carried out prior to
the tenancy and annually thereafter. The test must be carried out by
a CORGI registered plumber, and a certificate issued to the tenants.
Both Landlord and Agent are responsible.
We recommend that all oil and solid fuel boilers (including Agas) are
serviced and tested prior to tenancies and annually thereafter, as they
too can emit deadly carbon monoxide.
Again, both Landlord and Agent are responsible.
Unlike the Gas Regulations, the rules concerning the safety of electrical
installations do not require the Landlord to have an annual safety certificate.
However, Landlords must ensure that the electrical equipment and installations
are ‘safe’. Basically, visual inspections should be made
for obvious faults, plugs and sockets should be checked for appropriate
shields, and if there is any doubt an electrician should be asked to
carry out a full test.
We recommend a full electrical test for any properties
with wiring over five years old.
These regulations apply to all soft furnishings. Your property must
meet the regulations and compliant furniture should have conforming labels
attached. Non compliant furniture must be removed or replaced.
It must be noted that it is easier to let an unfurnished
property and the rent should not be adversely affected.
Although it has yet to become a legal requirement to have smoke alarms
installed in all rented property, we ask all Landlords to install at
least one alarm on each floor of the property, as a duty of care to the
tenants.
Monthly checking and replacement batteries can become the responsibility
of the tenants by agreement.
As a Landlord it is your responsibility to look after the following items:
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