Landlords' Letting and Management Information
Gas Safety
Simply put, you must ensure that any gas appliance or gas pipe work is “maintained in a safe condition so as to prevent risk of injury to any person”. By law, this maintenance must be carried out every twelve months by a member of a recognized regulatory body, this currently being the Gas Safe Register. Therefore all gas central heating systems, any other gas heaters, fitted gas applicances (boilers, cookers, etc) must be chcked, together with gas meters, gas pipe work, gas valves and gas regulators.
Once a gas safety test has been carried out, the engineer will produce an official documented certificate, your record that the system has passed. If you are in any doubt about applicances or pipe work mentioned, please let us know in advance before we secure tenants.
Failure to comply with the regulations may lead to prosecution, a criminal record, imprisonment and/or fines of up to £25,000.
We are able to arrange for an annual gas safety check on your behalf with one of our approved qualified gas engineers. Alternatively, you may supply us with a copy of the certificate that you already have in place if this applies.
Electrical Safety
If you let property you must ensure that the electrical system and all appliances are supplied safe, failure to comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and The Consumer Protection Act 1987 is a criminal offense and may result in:-
- A fine of £5,000 per item not complying
- Six months imprisonment
- Possible manslaughter charges in the event of deaths
- The tenant may also sue you for civil damages
- Your property insurance may be invalidated
There is no statutory requirement to have annual safety checks on electrical installations as there is with gas, however it is strongly recommended that checks are carried out by a qualified electrician.
Regulations
Under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994, both of which come under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, there is an obligation to ensure that all electrical equipment is safe.
In January 2005 new legislation under the Part P of the Building Regulations make it a requirement that for certain types of electrical work in dwellings, plus garages, sheds, greenhouses and outbuildings comply with the standards. This means a competent electrician must carry out the work.
Compliance
We strongly recommend that any landlords should make absolutely sure they are complying with these regulations to ensure that all electrical equipment supplied is safe.
In order to do this we recommend:-
- Periodic inspections of electrical equipment by a qualified electrician
- Five-yearly inspections by a qualified electrician to ensure safety and that the electrical system complies with current electrical regulations
We are able to arrange for a yearly or five-yearly electrical safety check on your behalf with one of our approved qualified electricians. Alternatively, you may supply us with a copy of the certificate that you already have in place if this applies.
Smoke Alarms
In the Building Regulations 1991, it is a requirement that all properties built since June 1992 be fitted with a mains operated interlinked smoke detector/alarm on each floor.
Regulations regarding older properties differ, but we strongly recommend that smoke alarms are fitted in all let properties and are regularly checked to ensure that they are in full working order.
We would also recommend that you consider making provisions for carbon monoxide detection. This is an odourless gas that cannot be seen and is extremely dangerous. Although your gas appliance must have annual inspections, you will never know when they may malfunction and therefore fitting a carbon monoxide detector is advisable.
Furniture and Furnishings
Furnished or Unfurnished?
This is a common question that we receive from landlords. In the current rental market, we recommend that properties are let unfurnished as they seem to move quicker. If you wish to leave white goods and other furnishings in the property, you must be aware that unless otherwise stated you will be liable for maintaining the appliances and/or furnishings too.
The Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amended) Regulations 1993
The above regulations were amended in 1993 and have set new levels of fire resistance for domestic upholstered furniture and furnishings. It is now an offense to “supply” in the course of business any furniture, which does not comply with the regulations. This includes supplying furniture as part of a rented residential property.
The regulations apply to:-
- Sofas
- Beds
- Bed heads
- Children's furniture
- Garden furniture suitable for use in a dwelling
- Scatter cushions and pillows
- Stretch or loose covers for furniture and other similar items
Should the furniture not have the appropriate labels and compliance is in doubt then checks should be made with the manufacturer.
These regulations do not apply to:-
- Curtains
- Carpets
- Bed clothes (including duvets) and mattress covers
Failure to comply with the regulations may jeopardise the life of your tenant and lead to prosecution with penalties of imprisonment and/or fines up to £5,000. Should the furniture not have the appropriate labels and compliance is in doubt then checks should be made with the manufacturer.