There are hundreds of laws and regulations in place that must be followed in order for a property to be legally rented out. Here at Philip Ellis Estates safety is one of our biggest priorities and we work hard in order to ensure that every single one of our tenants is living in a safe and secure property at all times. Our expert team is here to offer specialist advice and consultation on all aspects of property safety, so you don’t have to be a legal expert to let out a property with us!

Gas Inspections

A landlord or letting agency is legally required to ensure that gas appliances are maintained and inspected on a routine basis. This is usually carried out in the form of an annual safety check, which is a necessary requirement for all rental properties and should be carried out by a qualified Gas Safe engineer. In addition to this, a copy of the record should be given to the tenant within 28 days of the check being carried out.

Electrical Inspections

The Electrical Safety Standard Regulations came into effect in 2020 for private landlords in England, and was applied to all tenancies by the following April. The regulations state that landlords are now required to inspect and test all electrical appliances every five years, and provide a copy of the report to the tenant upon completion. The inspection must be carried out by a qualified professional and the landlord must retain a copy of the report in case it is requested by the local housing authority. The report must also be kept and provided to the person carrying out the following inspection in five years’ time. The Electrical Safety Standard Regulations only cover any electrical appliances provided by the landlord or integrated into the property, not any appliances or devices that the tenant brought into the property themselves.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Every single rental property in England and Wales is legally required to abide by the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Regulations 2015. But few know that these regulations have just been updated, coming into effect on 1st October 2022. The regulations require there be a smoke detector on every floor with a living room and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room that contains any ‘fixed combustion appliance’ other than a gas cooker. Landlords must also ensure that broken or faulty smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once they are notified, with the risk of a £5000 fine! As these regulations only came into effect last week, our agents are currently working tirelessly to ensure that all of our landlords are offered expert advice so that all of their properties enjoy full legal compliance and run no risk of incurring a fine.

Although homeowners are expected to carry out their own safety inspections and maintain their own appliances, it is the responsibility of the landlord or letting agency taking care of your tenancy to ensure that the safety checks listed above are completed. Don’t get stuck dealing with the hundreds of laws and safety regulations that you need to meet in order to let out your property! Come and speak to the best estate agents Whitefield has to offer today, and see what our bespoke advice can do to get your property on the market.