Consumer Protection

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) regulations 1988 (amended 1989 and 1993) provide that specific items supplied in the course of letting property must meet minimum fire resistance stabdards. The regulations apply to all upholstered furniture, beds, headboards and mattresses, sofa beds, futons and other convertables, nursery furniture, garden furniture suitable for use in a dwelling, scattercushions, pillows and non-original covers for furniture. They do not apply to antique furniture or furniture made before 1950, bedcovers including duvets, loose covers for mattresses, pillowcases, curtains, carpets or sleeping bags. Items which comply will have a suitable permanent label attached. Non-compliant items must be removed before a tenancy commences.

Smoke Alarms

All properties built since 1992 must have been fitted with mains powered smoke detector allrms from new. Although there is no legislation requiring smoke alarms to be fitted in other ordinary tenanted properties, it is generally accepted that the common law 'duty of care' means that landlords fit at least one alarm in each floor (in the hall and landing areas).

Important Safety Requirements

The following requirements are the responsibility of the owner (landlord). Where you have signed our Full management Agency Agreement, they are also our responsibility. Therefore where we are managing, we will need to ensure compliance.

Health & Safety - Gas

Under the GAs Safety (installation and Use) Regulations 1998 all gas appliances and flues in rented accommodation must be checked for safety within 12 months of being insatlled and thereafter at least every 12 months by a competent engineer (eg. a CORGI registered gas installer).

Maintenance

There is a duty to ensure that all gas appliances, flues and associated pipe-work are maintained in a safe condition at all times.

Records

Full records must be kept for at least 2 years of the inspection of each appliance and flue, of any defects found and of any remedial action taken.

Copies to Tenants

A copy of the Safety Certificate issued by the engineer must be given to each new tenant before their tenancy commences, or to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being carried out.

Health & Safety

There are several regulations relating to electrical installations, equipment and appliance safety and these affect landlords and their agents in that they are 'supplying in the course of business.' The include The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, the Plugs and Sockets Regulations 1994, the 2005 Building Regulation - Part p and British Standards BS 1363 realting to plugs and sockets. Although with the tenanted property there is currently no specific legal requirement for a qualifies electrician to carry out an inspection and issue a Safety Certificate (as exists in the case of gas appliances), it is now widely accepted in the letting industry that the only safe way to ensure safety and to avoid risk of being accused of neglecting your 'duty of care' or even manslaughter is to arrange such an inspection and Certificate.