Property Maintenance & Safety Archives | Page 2 of 2 | Blue Crystal Property Management

Why provide a Gas Safety Certificate before commencement of the tenancy?

In relation to tenancies starting or renewing on or after 01 October 2015, if a Landlord failing to serve a gas safety certificate on the Tenant prior to them moving into the property, the Landlord will be precluded from using section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 (“HA”) to obtain possession of the property on no fault grounds. Whilst Landlords can still end the tenancy by serving notice under section 8 of the HA, this usually requires some wrongdoing by the Tenant, and thus this course of action would not be available if the Tenant was not in breach. This February 2019, a case was considered and involved an AST granted on 20 February 2017. Hot water and heating were provided by a boiler outside the flat. No gas safety certificate had been provided or displayed before the start of the tenancy, but one was served prior to the Landlord serving a Section 21 Notice.

HMO Fire Safety and Health Regulations

In this article, we will explain what is involved in the HMO fire safety and health regulations and how you can comply as a landlord. In an HMO Fire safety is the landlord’s responsibility Fire safety within a rental property is of the utmost importance. Indeed, it is the landlords’ responsibility to be aware of […]

What are your fire safety responsibilities?

All landlords must adhere to core rules to safeguard against fire risk. As a landlord, you need to ensure tenants are protected against all fire risks. Escape routes The first and most critical responsibility for all landlords is to ensure all escape routes are kept clear at all times. If your property is a house in multiple occupation (HMO), all fire doors to escape routes also need to be clear at all times, and must be 30 mminutes fire resistant. Emergency lightings should also be checked. As a landlord, you can’t emphasise enough to tenants the importance of keeping fire exits clear. Conduct regular checks to ensure routes and doors remain clear at all times.

Do you need smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at your rental property

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are non-negotiable for health and safety purposes. It is not possible to monitor 24/7 for fire and air poisoning unless you have an alarm. Statistics revealed that we are 4 times more at risk in the absence of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Check out the importance of check in inventory What do we need to do to be compliant with current smoke and carbon monoxide detector regulation? A tenancy must ensure that during any period beginning on or after 1st October 2015 A smoke alarm must be equipped on each storey of the premises on which there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation. A carbon monoxide alarm must be equipped in any room of the premises which is used wholly or partly as living accommodation and contains a solid fuel burning combustion appliance. Importance of sum insured on a rental property?