Are you looking to boost your income with a buy-to-let property? Perhaps you are looking to increase your pension pot? Maybe you want a good, long-term investment? Then you may be considering a rental property. After all, they bring in money month after month, and then you could sell the property for a lump sum or continue renting the property for ongoing income.
But if you are looking to become a landlord in the UK there are health and safety requirements for a rental property that you need to consider. It is essential that your rental home is safe. Fit and legal for your tenants. This is what the lettings experts here at AGT Property Management and Lettings in Peterborough help to ensure for your rental properties.
So, what are the health and safety requirements for a rental property?
- Gas Safety
Your rental property in Peterborough needs to be gas safe. This means that all gas appliances and the gas supply must be safe. They need to be checked by a Gas Safe-registered engineer. This applies to all gas pipework, cookers, boilers, water heaters and gas fires. It is something that we can manage for all of our landlords and their properties.
- Electrical Safety
It is essential that all electric wiring and plug sockets within your property are safe. A qualified and competent person must inspect and test the electrical installations at least once every five years. This is known as an EICR, or an Electrical Installation Condition Report. Any electrical appliances in the rental properties that are supplied by you will also need to be checked. This is known as a Portable Appliance Test, or PAT. Once electrical appliances have been tested and confirmed safe, they are given a sticker. The sticker states when the test was completed and when the next test is due.
- Fire Safety
There must be working smoke alarms on each floor of your rental property. There also needs to be a carbon monoxide detector within any room that is heated by a fuel burning appliance. If fire safety regulations are not followed within rental properties, the landlord can be fined and sent to prison.
Need help managing your rental properties in Peterborough and surrounding areas? Call our team of rental experts now. We will be only too happy to help you keep your rented accommodation safe and legal.