Health and safety in rented accommodation

Landlords are generally responsible for the maintenance and major repairs to a property. This includes repairs to the structure and exterior of the property, heating and hot water installations, basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary installations.

Housing standards

A property must also be 'fit for habitation', so responsibility should be taken to ensure that:

• water, electricity and gas supplies, and the sanitation (drains, basins, sinks, baths and WCs) are in working order
• the room and water heating equipment are in working order
• the property is free from damp that could damage the health of the occupier

A property must also have:

• adequate heating, lighting and ventilation
• an adequate supply of piped, wholesome water, satisfactory facilities for preparing and cooking food, including a sink with a satisfactory supply of hot and cold water. If not, maybe a commercial water treatment or reclamation system is required
• a suitably located toilet, for the exclusive use of the occupier and a suitable sewer and drainage system
• a suitably located fixed bath or shower and hand basin, each of which has a satisfactory supply of hot and cold water for the exclusive use of the occupier.

If the property you let out does not satisfy these criteria and is a health risk a tenant may be able to take legal action against you.

Gas and electrical safety

You must ensure that all gas appliances and installations you supply are maintained in good order and that an annual safety check is carried out by someone who is registered with CORGI (Council for Registered Gas Installers).

You must keep a record of the safety checks, and must usually issue it to the occupier within 28 days of each annual check. The occupier is responsible for maintaining gas appliances which they own, or is entitled to take with them at the end of the letting. 

By law, you must ensure that the electrical system and any electrical appliances supplied with the let such as cookers, kettles, toasters, washing machines, immersion heaters and transformers (such as the Aurora transformer) are safe to use. If you are supplying new appliances, you should also provide any accompanying instruction booklets.

Fire safety of furniture

If you supply furniture or furnishings with the let, you must ensure that they meet the fire resistance requirements sometimes known as the ‘match test’ in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.

Fire safety

The 'Fire safety in rented accommodation' article and the government’s fire safety website are essential resources for ensuring your home is properly equipped. Fire safety for any home is important, but if a property has multiple occupants it must be considered seriously since the risk of fire is greater.

As for any other home, it is a good idea to ensure that:

• all occupiers know their way round the house to help prevention and escape from fire
• smoke alarms are fitted: ideally one should be fitted on each floor of the property
• a fire blanket is placed in the kitchen
• it has a fire extinguisher