As fire, health and safety are extremely important, we have put together these safety tips for landlords. Landlords are responsible for the safety of their tenants. They have to ensure that the property they let is safe to live in. This includes not only the physical structure, but also the contents of the property and gas and electrical systems too.
A landlord needs to ensure that their property is safe from fire, but also from other risks too.
Duty of care obligations extends to the common parts of a building, as well as to individual rental units. Landlords have a duty of care to their tenants and those visiting the property, for example contractors working on the premises.
Fire safety tips for landlords
Fire safety is of paramount importance for any landlord because if a fire breaks out it is a landlord’s responsibility. Not only could it prove fatal to those in the property, but very costly to deal with due to severe damage. Read more about Landlord Insurances in our blog because it is important to have the right protection in place.
Walk around your property before you let it and make sure that everything in the property is safe and there are no fire hazards. Check the property thoroughly at least once a year during each tenancy. Look for potential causes of fire such as electric heaters, faulty wiring and leaking gas. Read more in Why are regular property inspections important and view our What you should look out for during a property inspection for full information on what the inspection should cover and more safety tips for landlords.
Make sure that smoke detectors are fitted in every room of the property and that they are working correctly. This is the most important thing you can do in terms of preventing fires. Check that any fire extinguishers are in good working order and that they are easily accessible. If the property has multiple exits, make sure there is a clear plan showing escape routes.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms must be equipped in any room which contains a solid fuel burning appliance, such as a coal fire or wood burner. Checks must be made to ensure that each alarm is in proper working order on the day each new tenancy begins. Read more in our blog Do you need smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at your rental property?
Read more in our HMO Fire, Health, and Safety Regulations blog.
Health and safety tips for landlords
It is a legal requirement that every property has a new Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate at the beginning of each tenancy. Where a landlord provides electrical appliances as part of a tenancy, the law expects the appliance to be in a safe working condition that will not cause harm. Failure to do so could lead to the landlord being sued for negligence. Portable appliance testing (PAT) is always best practice for landlords, but it is not a legal requirement.
Annual gas safety checks must be carried out for each rented property on both your gas appliance and flue. Make sure that all gas appliances are installed and maintained by a gas safe registered engineer. This is particularly important for gas fires, as the pilot light can easily be extinguished, and restarting can be a tricky task for a tenant and may result in you visiting the property or an expensive call out change.
When you are carrying out your annual fire safety check, make sure the property is being kept in good condition generally. There should be no tripping hazards from loose floorboards, rugs or carpets, and the stairs should be kept clean. Everywhere should be well lit because a lack of light can lead to people accidentally falling over especially in stairways.
Make sure that the exterior of the property is free from tripping hazards too, including cracked or uneven paving slabs. Make sure that windows and doors are not broken or faulty to keep the property safe. These checks can also ensure that you have enough security measures fitted to avoid burglar attempts which will damage your property. You can read more about carrying out repairs in our Maintenance tips for landlords blog.
Book your 30-minute complimentary property consultation with Blue Crystal to discuss any aspect of property rental including safety tips for landlords and more.
Phone: 020 8994 7327. Email address: pm@bluecrystallondon.co.uk
