Did you know you have to comply with over 140 regulations to legally let out your property in England – and this is ever changing!
At Belvoir West Bridgford, the welfare of your tenants, keeping you compliant and your home up to standard, is our biggest priority.
By choosing our managed service, we will take full responsibility for the time-consuming burden of arranging, tracking, managing, and keeping records of all these required tasks and checks, so you don’t have to worry.
Below are some of the current legal requirements your property must adhere to before your home can be let out.
Gas Safety Certificate
Every gas appliance in your rental property must be checked at least every twelve months to ensure that it is safe to use, and a certificate produced to prove this. This can only be carried out by a Gas Safe registered gas engineer and must be in place before any new tenancy can start.
If any faults are found it is an offence to continue using the appliance and remedial works must be carried out to either repair the fault or replace the appliance as necessary immediately or a landlord is at risk of heavy penalties, including a fine of up to £5,000 and/or imprisonment.
Electrical Inspection Condition Report
These new Regulations require landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, at an interval of at least every 5 years. Landlords must provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants.
The Regulations came into force on 1 June 2020 to improve safety in all residential premises and particularly in the private rented sector.
An EICR has five main purposes:
- Ensure that all electrical installations on the property are safe.
- Identify damage and wear and tear that might affect the safety of occupants on a property.
- Find components of an electrical installation that do not meet the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Wiring Regulations.
- Determine which electrical appliances are likely to cause shocks and fires
- Record the condition of an electrical installation, to be used in future inspections.
Energy Performance Certificate
You must ensure an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) has been undertaken at the property before it can even be advertised for let or for sale. These can be carried out by a qualified assessor and measure the efficiency of your property in relation to energy usage and its’ environmental output, defined by a rating from A (the best) to G (the worst). The good news though is that the EPC does last for ten years from the day that it is issued.
From April 2018, it will be illegal for you to let any property to new tenants which falls below an E rating.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Since 2015, residential landlords have had to ensure that at least one smoke alarm is equipped on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation.
As of the 1st of October 2022, additional obligations came into force.
The changes mean that any such landlords must now ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers) (previously this requirement was only for solid fuel burning appliances).
Legionella Risk Assessment
All properties need to have a risk assessment compiled by a competent person. A report will then be complied outlining any risk factors found, and advice on how to avoid or improve these potential threats.
We issue all tenants with a legionnaire’s disease advice sheet on move in.
These are recommended to be redone every 2 years.
Furniture and Furnishings
All furniture and furnishings must comply with current standards regarding flammable materials and display the appropriate label confirming this – items purchased after 1st March 1990 from a reputable company will normally comply.
Any items that do not comply must be removed from the property before a tenancy can commence.
Selective Licensing
Nottingham City Council introduced Selective Licensing in August 2018 which covers 90% of homes in the private rental sector within the city boundary. The cost of a licence is £890 per property which lasts for five years.
A licence is a legal requirement and each rental property you own will need one. You must now have a licence to rent your property within designated Nottingham City Council areas. If you have not applied already then you may now be liable for a £30,000 fine.
Visit the below website and enter your rental property postcode to find out if you are within the licensing area.
My Property – Nottingham City Council
If you have recently purchased a property within the licensing area, then you must apply for a licence before you move tenants in.
The current scheme is due to end in August 2023; however, Nottingham City Council have launched a consultation on what they are calling a ‘New’ scheme to begin when the current one ends.
The ‘New’ scheme looks pretty much like the old one, but a few areas have been trimmed from the map, and the fees have changed a little. Unaccredited landlords are proposed to be charged a slightly lower £820 (down from the current £890) whilst accredited landlords will see fees drop to £630.
We will be keeping in contact with all our landlords regarding this, but if you do need some advice on this, do not hesitate to contact our team for help.
Please note this does not apply for any properties within Rushcliffe.
