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Our Landlord Guide
As a landlord, you are responsible for providing your tenant with a safe and healthy property for their peace and quiet enjoyment.
Landlord Guidelines in Sections 11-14 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 require the Landlord to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the property and keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the property for the supply of water, gas, electricity, sanitation and for space and water heating.
The Landlord’s obligations do not arise until he becomes aware that works or repairs are necessary. The Landlord complies with his obligations if he carries out the necessary works or repairs within a reasonable time after the day on which he becomes aware.
– The structure and exterior of the building – such as the walls, roof, external doors and windows.
– Sinks, baths, toilets and other sanitary fittings, including pipes and drains.
– Heating and hot water. All gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation.
– Electrical wiring.
– Items that are usually defined in the inventory unless damaged by the tenant and are not a health and safety issue.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 say landlords must ensure that gas appliances, fittings and flues are safe for tenant’s use and that installation, maintenance and annual safety checks are carried out by a technician registered with the Gas Safety Register (which superseded CORGI on 1st April 2009).
The landlord must keep a record of the safety check for two years and issue a copy to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being completed and issue a copy to any new tenants before they move in.
While there isn’t a legal obligation on landlords to have professional checks carried out on the electrical appliances, there is, however, an obligation to ensure that all electrical equipment is safe, under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, the Plugs and Sockets Regulations 1994, the 2005 Building Regulation – Part P, and the British Standard BS1363 relating to plugs and sockets.
All electrical certification should be carried out by an electrician who is registered with the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installers and Contractors (NICEIC).
There are two types of electrical certificates:
– Periodic Inspection Report
– Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended in 1989 and 1993) sets minimum fire resistance standards for domestic upholstered furniture, furnishings and other products containing upholstery that remain in a dwelling during a tenancy.
All properties built since June 1992 must have interlinked mains-connected smoke detectors/alarms on each floor of the property. Smoke alarms must be checked regularly to ensure that they are in full working order. A carbon monoxide detector should also be supplied. These can be purchased from most DIY shops. if your property is built before 1992 legislation now states battery-operated smoke alarms must be provided.
With effect from 1st October 2008, all new tenancies require an Energy Performance Certificate. Their purpose is to determine how energy-efficient homes are on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes – which should have the lowest fuel bills – are in band A. The certificate uses the same scale to define the impact a home has on the environment.
Better-rated homes should have less impact through carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The average property in the UK is in bands D-E for both ratings.
The certificate includes recommendations on ways to improve the home’s energy efficiency to save money and help the environment.
If the landlord wishes to rent their property to multiple occupants, it may mean that a licence is required before the property can be legally rented. Houses in Multiple Occupation are also referred to as “HMOs” and the purpose of the licensing scheme is to improve safety standards in this area of the rental sector.
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