Safety Regulations

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 (Amended 1996 &1998)

These regulations require all gas installations (including portable appliances) be checked annually for safe use by a registered CORGI plumber or British Gas engineer. Items that fail must be repaired and re-checked before a certificate can be issued and tenants can move in. Having a valid certificate does not exempt the landlord from their legal responsibility to keep items safe throughout the tenancy. Tenants are defined as “the responsible person”, it is their responsibility to inform the landlord immediately any unsafe installations or supply during the tenancy.

The Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (Amended) 1993 & 1996

All soft furnishings such as settees, sofa, beds, padded chairs, pillows cushions and so on must comply with the fire resistance requirements contained within the regulations. A label must be attached to the item of furniture showing it is both cigarette and match resistant.

Items of furniture made prior to 1950 are termed as antiques and as such are excluded from the regulations, but this must be proved.

Landlords are responsible for checking that any furniture left by previous tenants complies before re-letting. Landlords or agents can not get around the legislation by “giving” or “leasing” non-compliant furniture to the tenant.

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 (Amended) 1996

These regulations require that all electrical equipment supplied as part of furnished accommodation be “safe and of no risk or injury to human or animal”.

It is recommended that fixed wiring tests be done every 4/5 years by a member of the N.I.C.E.I.C.

The Plugs & Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994

These relate to the supply of electrical goods which have a plug or adaptor (including fuses) and state that the supplier (landlord or agent) must ensure that the product is safe as to not cause any ‘risk of death or personal injury to humans, pets, or risk of damage to property’.

A P.A.T. (Portable Appliance Test) must be carried out annually on each appliance left as part of a furnished property. Instruction books / manuals must be supplied for all appliances.

Smoke Alarms

To comply with 1991 Building Regulations properties built after June 1992 must have interlinked, mains powered smoke alarms on every floor. We recommend that smoke alarms be fitted to all floors.

Responsibility can not be handed over to the tenant for any of the above, nor can any clauses be added into tenancy agreements exempting landlords.