All landlords have a Duty of Care to ensure their tenants are safe.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 state that all let and managed properties must be tested annually for safety. Only Gas Safe registered businesses with Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) qualified engineers are authorised to carry out work on gas appliances and piping. This is a mandatory requirement.
We can arrange your annual gas safety check on your behalf and the payment can be deducted from the rent.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 state that supplying unsafe appliances is an offence. In the event of an accident involving electricity the landlord must be able to demonstrate that the supply and appliances are safe. This can only be done if they have been independently tested.
We can arrange your annual electrical safety check on your behalf and the payment can again be deducted from the rent. Our tradesman will carry out an annual visual electrical inspection on the property and a 5 yearly full electrical inspection.
Most of our properties have integral, hard wired smoke alarms included. Where there isn't one we recommend that you have battery operated ones fitted prior to your first let. In addition from October 2015 it will become law to have Carbon Monoxide detectors fitted also, we recommend one in the living room and one in a bedroom.
Since 1st January 1997, all furniture provided in furnished rented accommodation – houses, flats, bedsits – must meet the fire resistance requirements of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1998.
We cannot let any property containing non-compliant furniture. All items must carry a permanent label as proof that items are compliant with the regulations.
Since October 2008 all private residential property available for let is required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC is a legal requirement for new lets and is valid for 10 years.
Whether your property already has a valid EPC in existence any EPC can be found by going to www.epcregister.com and using your post code and house number.
If you don't have one for the property we can arrange this on your behalf.
Legionella is a potentially fatal illness like pneumonia which can be caught by inhaling bacteria generated by hot and cold water heating systems including storage tanks which are not functioning properly or have been stagnant for some time. The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and the control of Substances Hazardous to Health 1999 have recently changed and the Control of Legionella bacteria in Water Systems Approved Code of Practice ("ACOP L8"), now applies to domestic living. It is recommended that all landlords of residential rental properties have a Legionella Risk Assessment completed every two years to comply with the law.
Tenants over the age of 45, smokers or heavy drinkers, or those suffering from respiratory or kidney disease or immune system problems, might be considered particularly vulnerable.