|
Regulations
Rented residential property is covered by several regulations the most
important of which are detailed below.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
Only a competent and suitably qualified engineer who is CORGI (Council for
Registered Gas Installers) registered is permitted to carry out work on gas
appliances. The regulations also stipulate that all gas appliances and
flues in rented accommodation must be checked for safety within 12 months of
being installed and thereafter at least every twelve months by a competent
engineer (i.e. CORGI registered gas installer). This will include items such as
the gas central heating boiler, the gas cooker or any gas fires.
The safety check record is written in triplicate and you should be given the
tenat's copy before you take occupation of the property. If you are an existing
tenant you should be given a copy of the new record within 28 days of the annual
check.
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as
amended)
The aim of these regulations is to improve safety by requiring all furniture
and furnishings in rented properties to meet the "match test" or "cigarette
test".
These days new furniture is marked with a display label (a triangle with
a smoking cigarette) to show that it complies with this regulation. There should
also be a permanent and non-detachable label stating compliance. Bed bases and
mattresses are not required to bear a permanent label but compliance will be
indicated if the item has a label stating that it meets BS7177.
The regulations apply to all upholstery and upholstered furniture and loose
fittings, permanent or loose covers including: beds, mattresses, pillows,
armchairs and scatter cushions. You Landlord should replace non-conforming
items. Carpets and curtains are excluded from the regulations.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994
The regulations state that all electrical equipment supplied should be
safe. However there is little detail in the act as to what the
definition of "safe" is.
A resposnsible Landlord should check all appliances between tenancies
for obvious signs that they are unsafe such as frayed wiring or badly fitted
plugs. If you spot any defects of this nature you should report them to your
Landlord or Letting Agents immediately.
Where the safe use of the equipment relies upon the user being aware of any
particular characteristic you should be provided with the information, normally
in the form of an instruction book.
Houses in Multiple
Occupation
In April 2006 the government introduced the mandatory licensing of houses in
multiple occupation. As far as mandatory licensing of rented properties is
concerned a house in multiple occupation is defined as a property which spans
over three or more floors and is shared by five or more people made up of 2 or
more families. A family can be a single person.
 The poor
standard of some student accommodation was one of the issues that encouraged the
government to introduce mandatory licensing. Before a property can be granted a
licence it has to meet minimum standards in terms of the number of bathrooms,
toilets, washbasins, showers, cooking and laundry facilities. The Landlord
will also have to show the Local Authority that they are a fit and competent
person to manage the property.
As well as the mandatory Licensing scheme Local Authorities
have the right to impose additional licensing and impose their own standards.
If you live in a shared house in multiple occupation (Category B) and think
that it does not meet the minimum standards you should speak to your local
authority. If there is a problem they will take it up with the landlord. They
will not tell your landlord who made the complaint.
|
