Landlords have certain duties when they become a landlord and they must adhere to specific regulations.
Landlord and Tenants Act
There have been laws passed to protect the interests of both landlords and tenants. The act includes clauses stating that the landlord is required to keep the building in a good state of repair, for example.
Electrical safety
Landlords are required to adhere to certain safety regulations in terms of electrical installations and equipment. For example, sockets must comply with the current standard and plugs must be pre-wired and insulated. Any electrical leads must be in good working order and not frayed or damaged in any way.
Are you sure that your property meets current electrical safety regulations? It’s a requirement of the Part P Building Regulations to ensure that any electrical work is carried out by an approved electrician and a valid Part P certificate issued.
If you provide any electrical appliances or white goods then you’ll also need to have them PAT tested annually to ensure they are safe for your tenants to use.
Gas safety
A Gas Safety Record must be maintained annually in any rented property. A Gas Safe registered engineer must carry out an inspection to any newly fitted gas appliances to ensure they meet safety standards.
An annual check on existing appliances must also be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. If these regulations are not met, it is a criminal offence and landlords could be prosecuted, fined and even imprisoned.
Furniture and furnishings safety
Any furniture or soft furnishings must meet safety requirements and have labels showing this. This applies to some furnishings but not all. For example, beds, headboards, settees, cushions, padded chairs and day beds are also included but bed coverings, curtains and carpets are normally excluded.
Building regulations
If a landlord is building a property, extending or changing the structure of a property that is to be let, certain building regulations must be adhered to. These do change so it is important to ensure any builders carrying work out for you are aware of these regulations and obtain the correct documentation and certificates. Failure to do this can invalidate some insurance policies.
Other regulations
There are several other regulations that landlords need to be aware of. These include rules relating to houses of multi-occupancy, taxation regulations, the Stamp Duty Land Tax, the Protection from Eviction Act and the Data Protection Act.
Read more in our Landlord insurance guides or get a quote now.