Safety issues/regulations

Ensure there are written instructions for all electrical equipment in the property. The regulations require that you ensure electrical appliances are safe to use when first supplied, and each time the property is re-let. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 requires landlords who let a house in multiple occupation (HMO), with fixed electrical installations, to be tested at least every 5 years. As with Gas Safe Register certificates, copies need to be provided to tenants on request. For more information and to download a landlord factsheet please visit this website.

Since April 2020, all rental properties must have a minimum EPC rating of ‘E’.

Please refer to the Government wesbite for further guidance.

The regulations set new levels of fire resistance for domestic upholstered furniture, furnishings and other upholstered products. The regulations apply to beds, headboards, mattresses, sofa-beds, futons, garden furniture, scatter cushions, seat pads, pillows,loose and stretch cover furniture coverings etc.

All furniture and furnishings whether new or used must comply with the appropriate Regulations, with the exception of antique, period furniture or furniture manufactured before 1950. All new furniture should carry a manufacturer’s label stating that it complies and a warning “Carelessness Causes Fire” label.

For advice in this matter please contact your local authority’s Trading Standards Office.

www.gov.uk/find-local-trading-standards-office

You now have a statutory duty for your gas appliances (boilers, cookers, fires and water heaters etc), flues and associated pipework to be checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The regulations require that you keep a record of safety checks for a minimum of two years. You must give your tenant(s) a copy of a valid certificate before the tenant occupies the premises. In shared accommodation you should post it in a communal area such as the entrance hall or kitchen. For more information see www.hse.gov.uk/gas.

Health & Safety Executive Advice Line: 0800 300 363.

We will require a copy of your current gas safety certificate when you register your property with us.

Mandatory Licensing applies to houses of 5 or more residents. For further information, please contact your local authority Environmental Health Office or refer to the Government website for further guidance.

Since 1 April 2019, Tower Hamlets council have introduced an Additional Licensing scheme within the borough with the exception of the Whitechapel, Weavers, Spitalfields, and Banglatown. Since 1 October 2016 rental properties, within these areas, have been required to hold a Selective License.

Tower Hamlets Landlord Licensing Scheme

Other local authorities may have introduced additional selective licensing, please see the London Property Licensing website for further guidance.

We will require a copy of your current mandatory HMO Licence when you register your property with us.

The Housing Act 2004 has introduced a new way in which local authorities assess housing conditions. It uses a risk assessment approach to enable risks to be removed or minimised. If a local authority receives a complaint from a tenant or neighbour about a property, they will arrange an inspection and score the hazards found and can issue improvement notices upon landlords. For further information please contact your local authority Environmental Health Office or refer to the Government website for further guidance.

In an attempt to raise the standard of privately rented accommodation the Government are encouraging local Authorities to operate Landlord Accreditation Schemes, part of the scheme will enable landlords access to training courses and funding for renovation and general improvement grants. If you are interested please contact your local authority for details on these schemes. Accreditation gives certainty to tenants about standards, reduces the risk of litigation for landlords and generally improves the knowledge base and professionalism of the sector. Non local authority schemes include The London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS) or the National Residential Landlords Association.

Since 1 February 2016 landlords are required by law to check that anyone renting a new property or signing a new tenancy agreement have the ‘right to rent’. Landlords who rent to a tenant who doesn't have a right to rent can be fined £1000.

These rules mean that landlords will need to carry out simple checks on all new adult tenants to make sure they have the right to rent property in the UK. This also applies to people who are subletting their property or taking in lodgers.

As a landlord you simply need to check identity documents for all new tenants and take copies. A wide range of documents can be used for the checks, the Home Office has produced an essential guide: Download the Essential Guide.

Watch the 'How to make a Right to Rent check' video

Landlords who provide residential accommodation (or who are responsible for the water system in their premises) have a duty to assess the risk from exposure to Legionella to their tenants. By carrying out simple, regular assessments you should help prevent the risk of Legionella occurring within your premises. For further information please visit this website.

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 require you to have installed at least one smoke alarm on each storey of each property you rent. Carbon monoxide alarms are required to be fitted in rooms where solid fuel appliances are installed. For further information please refer to the Government website for further guidance.