Letting property comes with many obligations from the landlord and here are some
main areas Scott Bates and Coles thinks you consider:
These regulations have been in place since early in 1993 and
require that all upholstery, upholstered furnishings and soft furnishings
(beds, sofas etc) must comply with the fire safety regulations that have been
in place for some time now and have governed the sale of such items. They must
conform with the three tests used to measure the flame retardant properties of
such furnishings, namely The Cigarette Test, The Match Test and the
Ignitability Test.
- Interested potential tenants must be provided with a copy of the property Energy Performance Certificate at the earliest opportunity, usually within any written details which they may be provided with.
- Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
This regulation applies to all landlords who let property
with any gas installations in place, be it in the form of a boiler, gas fire,
oven, hob or portable heater etc. (LPG included)
To comply with this regulation, all gas appliances must be
serviced annually and any repairs necessary to bring the appliance(s) up to
standard, carried out immediately. The gas engineer must also provide a record
of their inspection, a part of which is given to the tenant.
You must ensure that any contractor used is sufficiently
qualified to carry out this service.
- Fire and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety)(Amendment) Regulations 1993
These regulations have been in place since early in 1993 and
require that all upholstery, upholstered furnishings and soft furnishings
(beds, sofas etc) must comply with the fire safety regulations that have been
in place for some time now and have governed the sale of such items. They must
conform with the three tests used to measure the flame retardant properties of
such furnishings, namely The Cigarette Test, The Match Test and the
Ignitability Test.
N.B. You cannot loan,
give, sell, or store within the property, any upholstery, upholstered
furnishings or soft furnishings (beds, sofas etc) that do not comply with
theses fire safety regulations.
- Fire Alarms
Scott-Bates
and Coles INSISTS that smoke detectors be fitted within all property for rent
as a basic safety feature.
Scott-Bates and Coles also
recommend that, as well as smoke detectors, Carbon Monoxide detectors be fitted
within all property for rent where appropriate. (Where there are gas or open
fires, or in the location of the boiler if so recommended by the gas engineer).
Properties that come under HMO licensing will have
additional fire safety requirements that must be adhered to.
- Electrical equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations state that any
electrical equipment in excess of 50 volts must be both safe and satisfy
requirements relating to colour coding of main leads, sleeving of pins on plugs
and fusing information. The best, and arguably only way, to protect yourself
from any possible prosecution as the landlord is to have all the appliances
tested (PAT) annually, or between tenancies, by a qualified electrician.
For the same reasons Scott-Bates and Coles cannot recommend
enough obtaining a full electrical safety certificate for your property, as
this is the only way to help ensure that your tenant is as safe as they should
be.
N.B. You cannot loan,
give, sell or store within the property any electrical equipment that does not
satisfy the requirements of these regulations.