Relevant Legislation Landlords Need to Know

There are many, many different pieces of legislation that may relate to renting a property, a lot of which can be rather confusing when it comes to application. While there is a wealth of laws and guidance that can affect landlords, in today’s article, Castles focuses on the key pieces of relevant legislation that affect landlords in the UK. Read on to find out more, or contact a member of their lettings team for information and guidance on 01793422833.

Health & Safety Legislation

Most of the legislation pertaining to renting a property is health and safety related and enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Gas Safety

Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations Act 1998

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations Act 1998 refers to the safety of all gas supplies, installations and appliances within a property. Under this legislation, a landlord is responsible for:

Maintaining all gas appliances, pipework, flues, etc. Ensuring they meet the manufacturers’ safety recommendations and are checked on a regular basis.

Assessing all gas installations to ensure they have been maintained to meet safety standards.

Arranging annual tests and inspections by a registered engineer from the official Gas Safe register.

Keep accurate records of inspections for a minimum of two years. A copy of these records must be made available to tenants within 28 days of carrying out safety checks or for new tenants, prior to their moving in date.

If these conditions are not met, your landlord’s insurance could become invalid. HSE is responsible for overseeing these regulations and places a high priority on their fulfilment. If you are found to be in violation, you can face a fine or even imprisonment.

To find out more, speak to a member of Castles’ lettings team - [URL=https://www.castlesproperty.co.uk]Letting a Property Swindon to find out more.

Castles Estate Agents is one of the top estate agents in Swindon, handling both residential sales and lettings. For more information, visit [URL= https://www.castlesproperty.co.uk/.

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