CERTIFICATES FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES

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 Landlords must provide an up-to-date Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC measures the energy efficiency of a property so Tenants can use the rating to get a clear idea of how much it will cost to heat the property. The certificate lasts for ten years however it is advised that should new features be added to the property such as double glazing or solar panels, the certificate should be carried out again.

 Electrical safety inspections must be carried out every five years by a qualified electrician. The purpose is to make sure that electrical appliances and installations are all in safe working order.  The inspection report may note that remedial work is required and that work must be carried out within 28 days. Tenants must be issued with this certificate when they move in, if not before. 

 A qualified Gas Safe engineer will need to check gas appliances, pipes, and flues every 12 months. Once the gas safety check has been completed, you will have 28 days to provide existing tenants with a copy of the certificate, which will list all the checks that have been carried out. If you have a new tenant, you will need to provide them with a copy of the gas safety certificate when they move in, if not before. 

There is no specific fire alarm check, though the Landlord must; provide a carbon monoxide alarm in any room where there is a solid fuel burning appliance, such as an open fire, a smoke alarm on every floor of the property, fire extinguishers in HMOs. The Landlord must also ensure that all furniture provided meets The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988.

 Legionella risk assessments are a legal requirement to make sure a property is safe to move into. Legionnaires disease, a form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria, can breed in water pipes and heating systems. The risks of Legionella are fairly low, especially in cases where there is daily water usage and cold water comes directly from the mains, not stored water tanks. That said,  it’s important for landlords to assess the risks to their tenants of exposure to Legionella. This assessment must be done at least every two years.