There are an estimated 4.6 million households renting in England alone, which equates to 35% of the total number of households within the country. Therefore, there are a lot of landlords too!
Being a landlord is a huge undertaking as you have several legal responsibilities to follow to make sure your tenants and their living situation are safe. Here is why health and safety should be taken seriously as a landlord.
Legal responsibilities under UK law
There are many different regulations that landlords need to abide by. Regulations such as the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) 1998 lay out exactly what is expected when it comes to gas appliances and keeping tenants safe.
Your local council will regularly inspect your property. They will use legislation called the Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS) to conduct a risk assessment and give you recommendations on how to keep your tenants as safe as possible.
Failure to follow the appropriate legislation can result in legal difficulties, fines and even imprisonment for repeat or serious offenders. You also open yourself up to compensation claims from your tenants if they get hurt as a result of your negligence.
Fire and gas safety measures
Accidents involving fire can be devastatingly dangerous, so landlords must have the appropriate preventative measures in place.
It is a requirement to have a smoke alarm on each storey of the property, as well as provide carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with a solid fuel-burning appliance. This could be for a wood-burning stove or a coal fireplace. Escape routes are non-negotiable too and should be kept clear and accessible at all times.
Gas appliances should be checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure that everything is functioning properly and safely.
Electrical safety and regular inspections
Homes are full of electrical appliances, and whilst they are very useful they can also be a safety risk if they malfunction.
Electrical items do still have to be inspected like gas appliances, but they should be checked every 5 years instead of annually. Inspectors will provide a report, and this must be passed on to your renters within 28 days as well as to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.
This, plus more, is laid out in the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
Preventing common hazards in rental properties
Appliances aren’t the only hazards in a rented home. Damp and mould are common issues and there are ways to help prevent this. Ensure the property has an adequate amount of ventilation as well as insulation. If your tenants report any issues, be sure to be proactive about them and inspect them as quickly as you can.
Broken furniture can quickly become a trip hazard so make sure you act on reports quickly. Your tenants have a right to enjoyment in the home and not having a functional sofa, for example, is a huge issue.
Nb. Collaborative post.
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