SAFETY REGULATION FACT SHEET
Safety in
rented property is just as important as in the landlord's own home. The
landlord has a general duty of care to ensure that the property and its
contents are safe and properly maintained. However, there are 3 areas
where the landlord and his agent have specific and clearly defined legal
obligations:
The
Furniture and Furnishing (Fire)
(Safety) Regulations 1988 (Amended 1993)
All
upholstery and upholstered furnishings supplied, as part of a tenancy
must comply with current fire resistance standards. Such furnishings must
carry the appropriate permanent labels to show that they comply.
This
label is appropriate to new furniture, which meets the filling requirements
and is both cigarette and match resistant.
This
label is appropriate to new furniture with a limited range of cover fabrics.
The cover fabric is not match resistant, but the furniture has an inter
liner which passes the specified test. The furniture meets the filling
requirements and is cigarette resistant.
It
is worth noting that furniture manufactured prior to 1950 is not covered
by the regulations because the defective materials, which are now prohibited
(in particular, unsafe types of foam filling), were not in use at the
time.
The Gas Safety (Installation and use) Regulation 1994
These regulations were introduced in order to reduce the number of deaths in rented property caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty gas appliances. The gas supply and gas appliances. The gas supply and gas appliances must be maintained in a safe condition by a properly qualified Corgi (Council of Registered Gas Installers) registered engineer. An annual safety inspection must be carried out and a service record maintained.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994
These regulations operate in much the same way as the gas safety regulations and place a legal obligation on the landlord and his agent to ensure that any portable electrical equipment supplied as part of a tenancy is safe. Regular safety checks are required and although no time period is specified we recommend that these are carried out on a yearly basis at the same time as the gas check. In general we now recommend that all unnecessary electrical items are removed from the property prior to the letting.
In the absence of a current gas or electrical safety certificate, safety checks will have to be carried out before the commencement of any new let. Hamilton Wood has negotiated competitive rates from local contractors for these tests, which can be carried out at short notice via our offices.
Landlords requiring further information are referred to the following publications; from the DTI, Consumer Unit, Rm 302/303, 10-18 Victoria St, London SW1E 6RB.
Guide to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1989.
From HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 6FS.
Maintaining Portable and Transportable Electrical Equipment.
Safety in the Installation and use of Gas Systems and Appliances, Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994-Approved Code of Practice and Guidance.