Private Landlords Responsibilities

 

Thinking About Renting Out Your Home?

If you are thinking of renting out your home you need to consider the following points so as to avoid some of the common pitfalls of private renting:-

• You may need the consent of your mortgage lender to rent out your property;
• Obtain references from potential tenants;
• Prepare a formal tenancy agreement;
• Make sure that any deposits taken from a tenant are properly protected;
• Obtain an energy performance certificate;
• Find out whether you need a licence for a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO);
• Ensure your gas and electrical appliances checked;
• Carry out a fire risk assessment and minimise the risk
• Ensure that your property presents no risk to your tenant's health and safety

Contact Regulatory Services on 01329 236100 or email regulatory@fareham.gov.uk.  Further information or a leaflet on this subject can be obtained from www.lacors.gov.uk (this is an external hyperlink).

 

New Fire Safety Guidance For Residential Accommodation

New national fire safety guidance was published in July 2008 which can be found at www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/ContentDetails.aspx?authCode=4B0BF8F&id=19843 (this is an external hyperlink). This guidance provides specific recommendations for enforcers, landlords and tenants.

 

Gas Safe Register

Since 1 April 2009 only Gas Safe engineers can carry out work on gas appliances and installations in your home. If someone other than a Gas Safe engineer does the gas work in your home, you could be risking the safety of all the occupants. All registered engineers are listed at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk (this is an external hyperlink) or call 0800 408 5500 to find a local engineer.

All Gas Safe Registered engineers have an ID card with their licence number and a photograph. If you think an engineer is not registered, just call 0800 408 5500.

Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 landlords must arrange maintenance by a Gas Safe Registered engineer for all pipe work, appliances and flues, which you own and have provided for your tenants to use. Landlords must also arrange for an annual gas safety check to be carried out by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. A record of the safety check must be kept for 2 years, and a copy must be given to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being undertaken. A copy must be issued to new tenants before they move in.

To help landlords explain the change in arrangements to tenants, landlords can download free leaflets from the above website or email 'Landlord Leaflet Request' to marketing@GasSafeRegister.co.uk

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) enforce the gas safety regulations and see gas safety as a high priority. Should you fail to comply with the regulations, the HSE will take enforcement action that may result in a substantial fine and/or a custodial sentence. Visit www.hse.gov.uk/gas (this is an external hyperlink) for further information on this subject.

If you suspect a gas leak you should immediately:-

• ring the National Grid's Gas Emergency Freephone number: 0800 111 999
• open all doors and windows;
• shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve

 

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that you can't see, taste or smell. It is released from the incomplete combustion of carbon containing fuel eg gas, coal. This can happen when domestic appliances such as boilers, fires and cookers are wrongly installed or maintained or when a chimney, flue or air vent is blocked.

Accidental exposure to carbon monoxide kills more than 50 people each year in England and Wales. It can kill without warning in a matter of minutes. Brain damage can occur from acute and chronic poisoning incidents.

Look out for sooty or yellow/brown staining on or around appliances; pilot lights frequently blowing out; pilot light or flame burning orange or yellow instead of blue.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are difficult to detect because it's symptoms are the same as those of many other common ailments, including headaches, tiredness, confused and feeling sick. Others in the same property may exhibit the same symptoms and they may be less severe when you are away form the property.

If you have these symptoms and think they could be caused by carbon monoxide:-

• Turn off all your appliances that use fuel other than electricity;
• Open windows and move outside;
• See a doctor at once and say that you think you may have carbon monoxide poisoning;
• Call a Gas Safe Registered engineer to check all your cooking and room or water heating appliances.

You can protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning by:-

• Fitting an audible carbon monoxide alarm that meets European Standard EN 50291
• Keep rooms well ventilated
• Having all appliances, flues and chimneys correctly installed and serviced by trained, reputable, registered and competent engineers

See www.dh.gov.uk/publications (this is an external hyperlink) for a leaflet entitled "Carbon monoxide Are you at risk?" for further information.

Electrical Safety

Each year there are over 30 deaths and nearly 4000 injuries from electricity in UK homes. The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) has published a new guide entitled the "Landlords' Guide to Electrical Safety" as part of its campaign to improve electrical safety in privately rented property. It recommends the following regular checks:-

• Visual checks of the electrical installation eg wires, sockets,switches,fusebox
• Periodic inspection testing 
• Tests on portable appliances
• Fire alarms and emergency lighting  

The guide is available to download free of charge at www.esc.org.uk (this is an external hyperlink). Printed copies may also be available by contacting Regulatory Services at regulatory@fareham.gov.uk or telephone us on 01329 236100.

Energy Performance Certificates

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) came into full effect from 1 October 2008. An energy performance certificate (EPC) provides information about the energy efficiency of the home. Houses which are built, sold or let as a whole or as a self contained unit will need to have an EPC. The requirements will be enforced by Trading Standards (or Building Control for new build homes).  An EPC is produced after the inspection of a property by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor. Details of accredited DEAs can be found at www.epcregister.com.(this is an external hyperlink).

Landlords must make the EPC available free of charge to prospective tenants at the earliest opportunity. This should be when they are first given written information about the property or view it, and before any rental contract is entered into. EPCs are valid for 10 years and can be reused as many times as required within that period.

Link to further information on EPCs:-

• http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/Homeinformationpacks/DG_171685 (this is an external hyperlink).

• http://www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/ContentDetails.aspx?id=19751 (this is an external hyperlink)

 

For further information please contact us at regulatory@fareham.gov.uk or telephone us on 01329 236100.

 

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