As a landlord, it’s important to make your properties safe and secure for your tenants. This ensures that you’ve done everything possible to create a successful tenancy, and it also makes sure that you’re fulfilling your landlord legal requirements.
Your property must be free from any hazards, you should have all the right checks and certificates in place, and it should be a comfortable place for people to live in. If you don’t comply with all the landlord legal requirements you could be reported to your local council, or to environmental health.
Furthermore, you should vet your tenants properly and choose tenants that you trust to look after your property well, and to inform you if anything goes wrong or when anything needs repairing.
Laws are there to keep tenants safe, and landlord legislation changes all the time so it’s important to keep up with it. For instance, Awaab’s Law is set to be rolled out to the private rental sector to improve how landlords handle damp and mould issues within their properties.
Read our guide below to ensure that you’re complying with all the current landlord legal requirements, and if you have any questions or concerns, contact your local Hunters branch and we’ll be happy to help you.
General safety precautions
To ensure that your property remains safe for your tenants, you have to carry out regular safety checks. Safety checks should cover the outside of the building, the structure of the building and the inside facilities too. It’s important to recognise any issues that could be hazardous, and to work to fix them quickly.
The housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS) provides guidance about landlord legal requirements under the Housing Act 2004. It’s a guide to reduce hazards and to protect people against potential risks. Local councils use the HHSRS to assess potentially hazardous properties, however it’s also useful for you as a landlord, so you know what to look for.
Regular tenancy inspections also give you the advantage of seeing how well the tenant is looking after your property. Check your landlord insurance to see whether there’s a minimum amount of time allowed between property inspections – if you don’t adhere to it, it could invalidate any claim you make.
Giving notice about landlord inspections
Landlord requirements dictate that tenants must be given adequate notice before you inspect the property. Your tenancy agreement should outline how long this is, but the 1988 Housing Act ensures that tenants have the right to use their home without disturbance. This means that you must give a minimum of 24 hours’ notice (in writing is best), however, more time would be preferable (up to a week).
Any visit should take place at a reasonable time of day so as not to be too intrusive. If there’s an emergency (such as a fire or smell of gas, for example) you may enter the property straight away.
Utility safety
As a landlord, you need to provide a home that’s safe and comfortable to live in. The utilities within the property make up a large part of this. Fitting and maintaining utilities properly and safely is a big part of your role.
Electrical
You must ensure that the whole electrical system is safe in each of your properties. This includes all parts of the system, like the fuse box, and light and plug sockets. Anything that’s fitted and installed must be checked and maintained by a qualified person. They’ll give you an electrical installation condition report, which you should share with your tenant. These systems need to be checked every five years.
Electrical items that can be moved (such as TVs, fridges and kettles) do not apply for these checks. You can ask an electrician to perform a portable appliance test (PAT test) on them to ensure they’re safe, and this is recommended. However, PAT tests aren’t required by law for private residences as they’re more relevant to business owners or owners of commercial properties.
Water
All landlords must supply tenants with running water, heating and sanitation fittings. It’s your responsibility to maintain these too, including repairs to sinks, baths, toilets, pipes and drains. If the heating or hot water fails, you must deal with repairs swiftly (this is even more urgent in winter).
You also need to assess and control the risk of Legionella bacteria. Professional testing for Legionella isn’t compulsory by law, but it’s strongly recommended that you assess the risk regularly and record your findings.
Gas
Landlord requirements mean that you’re legally responsible for your tenants regarding gas safety. You must ensure that any gas appliance supplied by you has been safely installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
A gas safety check needs to be done every year, again by a Gas Safe registered engineer. These gas safety checks must be completed on each appliance and flue within your property. Keep clear records of your gas safety checks and certificates, and set reminders for when they’re next due. You need to give your tenant a copy of your gas safety check record when they move in (or within 28 days).
Fire safety
You have a legal obligation to follow all fire safety regulations as a landlord. Landlord smoke alarm requirements dictate that you must have a smoke alarm on each floor of your property. A carbon monoxide alarm must be present in any room that has a fixed combustion appliance (this doesn’t include gas cookers). Read the guidance available for smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations to find out more.
As well as alarms, there are other precautions you need to account for. These include providing safe escape routes for tenants, ensuring furniture and furnishings are fire safe, and providing fire alarms and extinguishers in large properties (such as houses of multiple occupation).
Carry out regular fire risk assessments to ensure that your property remains safe and compliant.
Security
Another aspect of your job as a landlord is to keep your tenants and your property safe from intruders. Ensure that the basic elements are covered; start with windows, doors and locks. Update any old or worn elements, such as damaged doors and windows as they’re an obvious weak point for intruders. Invest in modern locking systems where possible as these are much more effective; and if you’re not sure where to start, you can always get a specialist out to analyse any points of weakness in your security.
Think about whether an alarm, and/or window sensors might be worth investing in. These elements are not a legal requirement, but go a long way in protecting your property, and yourself as a landlord. If a break-in happens and your security is shown to be lacking, your insurance may not pay out. Also, having a burglar alarm can bring down the cost of your insurance as it makes such a great deterrent.
Outdoor safety
There’s also a lot to consider when looking at outdoor safety. You can look at security lighting, and CCTV, but there’s a lot to think about when putting in CCTV. There are the clear advantages of it being a deterrent, and a good tool for capturing any intruders on camera. However, it’s also important to think about how your tenants and neighbours might feel about it; their privacy has to be protected.
Before you install anything, make sure you have a robust reason for using CCTV, and that you can handle the data responsibly. If you do decide to go ahead with it, inform tenants and neighbours in advance of installation.
When installing CCTV, you need to put up clear signs to let people know that images are being recorded. When positioning the camera, you need to be mindful of neighbours and tenants; only cover the area that’s needed for security, and that’s within your boundary.
FAQs on making my property safe for tenants
What are the most common safety hazards in rental properties?
It’s important that landlords check all safety hazards within their properties regularly, in order to protect their tenants. Safety hazards include fire safety, electrical faults, risks of falling, structural issues, and damp and mould.
How do I check if my property’s electrical system is safe?
You can get your electrical systems checked by an approved, registered contractor and they can be found on the Electrical Safety Register. They can supply you with an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). It’s important to keep on top of your electrical systems; if you fail to check and maintain them, your insurance company may not pay for any issues that happen due to an electrical fault.
What fire safety measures are required in rental properties?
There are several mandatory fire safety regulations that you need to adhere to as a landlord:
- A smoke alarm on each floor of the building
- A carbon monoxide alarm in each room that has a fixed combustion appliance
- Safe escape routes for tenants
- Fire safe furniture
- Fire alarms and extinguishers in houses of multiple occupation (HMOs)
What should be included in a tenant safety information pack?
A tenant safety pack should provide your tenants with all the information they need to have a safe and successful tenancy with you. Things to include:
- Tenancy agreement – this highlights the tenant’s responsibilities and your responsibilities as their landlord
- Safety certificates
- Fire precautions and advice
- Information on how the utilities and appliances work
- Any alarm system information, and advice on locking doors and windows
- An inventory
- Advice on housekeeping – this can help prevent issues such as damp developing due to condensation etc.
- Gardening advice – keeping pathways clear etc.
- Emergency contact details
Keeping your tenants safe is a large part of your job as a landlord so you must follow all landlord legislation. If you have any questions then contact your local Hunters branch now, or register as a landlord and we’ll get in touch with you. We’ll talk you through everything you need to know about how to make your property safe for tenants and ensure that you’re meeting all the legal requirements.
