landlord safety checks

Landlord Safety Inspections across the North East

So call us now to arrange a convenient time for the safety inspection. With B & K services in Newcastle, you can be assured of Landlord Safety Checks done thoroughly and at very reasonable rates.

Benefits/Importance

As a landlord it should be your priority to ensure that your tenants are safe in the property they are renting from you. If your property is deemed unfit for purpose there will be severe consequences such as: a £5000 fine, 6 months imprisonment, potential criminal charges in event of injury or death, and invalid property insurance. Read about the law below and find out how B & K Electricals can help make sure you do not breach it.

The Law

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, it is important and useful that you are aware of the law regarding the property of interest. That way you will not find yourself in any sticky situations and can make the most of your tenancy agreement.

Gas Safety:

Landlords hold a lot of responsibility to ensure the safety of their tenants. The Gas Safety (installation and use) Regulations 1998, states that landlords must receive a gas safety check and certificate once every 12 months and this certificate must be issued by a Gas Safety registered engineer. The gas engineer will check all flues and pipework within the property, as well as any other gas appliances the landlord supplied to the tenants. It is the landlord’s responsibility to give the tenant(s) a copy of the certificate before they move in or within 28 days of the check.

The Gas Safety Certificate must include:

• The Gas Engineer’s details and signature
• The date of the check
• The address of the property
• The landlord’s details
• An inventory including the locations and conditions of the flue and any appliances,
• A description of any problems and the actions carried out
• A statement confirming the check is completed and that it was in accordance with the Gas Safety Regulations 1998

If landlords fail to comply with these regulations, they could face a large fine and/or a 6 months prison sentence. Don’t let it be you!

Electrical Safety:

The legislation regarding electrical safety in rented properties is slightly more relaxed than that of gas safety. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 states that the electrical installation in a property must be safe when a tenancy begins, and maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy. In Scotland, landlords are required to carry out a professional inspection every 5 years. This is also the case in England and Wales when regarding houses in multiple occupation (HMO). Landlord’s of other property types in England and Wales do not need to carry out regular electrical checks. However, B&K Electricals recommend that an electrical safety certificate is still obtained regularly. The report will:

• Reveal potential safety risks
• Discover any poor electrical work
• Show any overloaded circuits and equipment  
• Check if services to equipment has been carried out correctly
• Determine the extent of any damage or wear and tear

All these points make regular electrical checks very worthwhile.

Leave nothing for your tenants and occupant to worry about. We can help with:

• CP12 – Landlord Gas Safety
• Certificates CP4 – Gas Safety Certificate
• Fault finding on heating installations or radiators
• Servicing of boilers and fires
• Visual inspection reports
• Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)
• Periodic Inspection Reports