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Legal Requirements as a Landlord

Legal Requirements as a Landlord
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate / Domestic Energy Certificate)<br />

EPC (Energy Performance Certificate / Domestic Energy Certificate)

Before marketing your property, you must have an EPC to provide a guide as to the energy efficiency of your property for your tenants. Certificates are valid for 10 years. As part of our services, we can arrange this for you to ensure your property is compliant.

Gas Safety (The Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1994 (Amended 1998)<br />

Gas Safety (The Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1994 (Amended 1998)

Before your property is let, you must have a valid gas safety certificate (CP12). Certificates are valid for 12 months and are issued by qualified Gas Safe registered engineers. A copy of the certificate must be left at the property. As part of our services, we can arrange this for you to ensure your property is compliant.

Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020<br />

Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020

Regulations require landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, at an interval of at least every 5 years. Landlords have to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants, and to their local authority if requested. The Regulations came into force on 1 June 2020 and form part of the Department’s wider work to improve safety in all residential premises and particularly in the private rented sector.

Electrical Safety (The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 & Electricity at Work Regulations 1989)<br />

Electrical Safety (The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 & Electricity at Work Regulations 1989)

It is the Landlords responsibility to ensure that the electrical system and all electrical appliances provided for the tenancy – such as cookers, kettles, toasters, microwaves, fridges and washing machines – are safe to use and are provided with instructions for safe use. Any non-repairable items must be replaced and removed. An NICEIC or similarly qualified electrical engineer must carry out these tests on an annual basis. As part of our services, we can arrange this for you to ensure your property is compliant.

Legionella Risk Assessment<br />

Legionella Risk Assessment

A legionella risk assessment is a HSE risk assessment, carried out by trained legionella risk assessment experts.A survey will be carried out on your site to examine the water services within your buildings. Once the survey has been completed and the results of any samples have been analysed, you will receive a set of recommendations to ensure sufficient water hygiene and legionella management control systems are in place.

Smoke Detector Requirements<br />

Smoke Detector Requirements

Landlords are required from 1 October 2015 to have at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their properties and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance (e.g. a coal fire, wood-burning stove). After that, the landlord must make sure the alarms are in working order at the start of each new tenancy. As part of our services, we can arrange and test this at the beginning of every tenancy.

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1998 (as amended)<br />

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1998 (as amended)

All upholstered furniture (such as sofas, settees, armchairs,  seat pads, beds, mattresses, headboards, pillows,  cushions and bean bags) must comply with the regulations, be fire resistant and carry a permanent label to this effect. All upholstered furniture made after 1950 is included in these regulations and if compliance cannot be proved the item must be removed and replaced.

Money Laundering Regulations<br />

Money Laundering Regulations

As Agents, we have a legal responsibility to ensure we comply with the Money Laundering Regulations. Before we let your property, we will require two forms of identification; one of which needs to be a new style driving licence or passport showing your photograph and the other, verification of your address.

Right to Rent<br />

Right to Rent

In line with the Immigration Act 2014, from 1st February 2016 all landlords and letting agents in England who produce a tenancy are required to conduct ID and Right to Rent checks on all adult occupiers. It is a mandatory requirement for anyone who lets a private property in England to see and make a copy as evidence to show that the adult tenant has the right to rent in the UK; whether this continuous or time limited. Landlords or agents who fail to do these checks correctly could be liable for a fine of up to £3,000 per occupier.

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