As a landlord you have a legal obligation to guarantee that the property you let is not dangerous for your tenants to live in. Generally speaking, gas and electrical systems and appliances present the main risk of harm. It's essential you make certain that these systems are not dangerous.
Gas Insallation
It is advisable to make sure that each of the fittings and flues are looked after properly as well as in a safe condition. Which means you must have gas installations and appliances serviced every 12 months and you should keep a record of the service.
You ought to have a gas safety check administered on all gas appliances and flues annually. A Gas safety certificate is a legal requirement.
Ideally, check gas installations and appliances immediately before the beginning of any new tenancy, even if the gas safety certificate continues to be existing. Your managing agent ought to do this for you.
Only a Gas Safe registered plumber or central heating engineer is trained to repair or certificate everything attached to the gas system. For example, dealing with boilers, flues or cookers. I personally live in London so I always look for a company by searching the internet. Ensure that you retain a record of every safety check for two years. Your Gas Safe engineer will issue this certificate. Also you should make sure you give a copy with the Gas Safe engineer’s safety check report and certificate to your tenants.
The statutory regulations are: Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. These regulations are enforced from the Health and Safety Executive.
Electrical Installation
Whilst there isn't a requirement by law to get the fixed wire electrical system checked for safety, it definitely excellent practice and often a condition by a great property management agency, to produce a Periodic Inspection Report. If the system is safe and in good condition it may have a Satisfactory Inspection listed in the PIR document. A check every 5 years is generally deemed suitable.
All properties built since June 1992 are bound by building regulations to have inter-connected, mains operated smoke alarms installed on every level of the property. In older properties this is not a requirement.
Though, landlords are well recommended to produce at least battery operated smoke alarms as a duty of care. If you ever fit battery-operated smoke alarms regrettably, it is the owner’s liability to test them frequently and for the batteries to be changed on a regular basis. This makes fitting a mains operated smoke alarm look more attractive and price efficient in the long term.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 as well as the Plugs and Sockets (Safety) Regulations 1994 demand that every electrical equipment in tenanted residential properties have to be safe. E.g. Kettles, cookers, microwaves, televisions and washing machines. Technically a PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) procedure is required to be implemented. This is a test for every appliance to ensure it’s safe. A sticker with the pass date is stuck onto it and a record kept.
For landlords with multiple properties this can be time consuming and expensive. Ideally keep the quantity of electrical equipment you supply to your tenant at an complete minimum.
Author Resource:
As a Landlord myself I have encountered many problems over the years. But I'm pleased to say "none of my tenants have ever had an accident while living in one of my properties". I’ve always had my homes maintained by exactly the same electrician london company, and through the years they've saved me a lot of my cash just by giving me some advise.
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