Safety Regulations

Gas Safety

The Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 give clear responsibilities that Landlords must maintain all gas appliances and pipe work in their property to a safe standard as to prevent risk or injury to any person. The law states that a gas safety record must be in place before the commencement of any tenancy and renewed upon its expiry. Therefore annual inspections & safety checks must be carried out by a registered CORGI engineer. Failure to comply with these regulations is a criminal offence and could result in a hefty fine and/or imprisonment.

Electrical Safety

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 make it the Landlord’s responsibility to ensure that all electrical equipment supplied by the Landlord is safe to use and could not cause injury or consequential danger. To ensure compliance to these regulations, we recommend that a visual wiring check is carried out along side a Portable Appliance Test. This needs to be carried out by an N.I.C.E.I.C. qualified electrician prior to a change of tenant or annually – which ever comes first.

Fire Regulations

The Furniture & Furnishings (Fire)(Safety)Regulations 1988 (as amended in 1993) make it an offence to let a property with any non-compliant furniture or furnishings to these regulations. All furniture produced (new) in the E.U. since 1988 would comply with these regulations. Also any furniture manufactured before 1950 is excluded (due to materials used during this time). The regulations apply to all soft furnishings such as beds, head boards, mattresses, sofas, sofa-beds, futons, stools, dining chairs with padded seats, garden furniture, scatter cushions, pillows etc.(curtains & carpets are not included within this list and are not part of the regulations). Any such items being left either have to display a relevant label confirming the compliance to these regulations (or if the label is not present – we would need a copy of the receipt of purchase). If you have any furniture either without a label or receipt of purchase, the item cannot be left within the property and must be removed.

Smoke Detectors

As part of Building Regulations, all properties built since June 1992 must have mains operated smoke alarms installed on each floor. Landlords letting older properties have no obligation to supply either mains or battery operated smoke alarms. However, if you have supplied smoke alarms within your property, you have a duty of care to ensure that they remain in good working order.