Key Landlord Obligations and Responsibilities
The health and safety obligations on landlords are wide-ranging and can vary (depending on whether there is a commercial or residential property, whether the property is in a local authority selective licensing area, which part of the UK it is located in, etc).
The information below is simply a brief introduction to the key legal and compliance obligations on residential landlords as we understand them, but landlords should carry out their own enquiries with their local authority and professional advisors.
If you let a private residential property your legal responsibilities include the following.
Gas Safety Certificates (GSC)
Landlords are legally required to carry out an annual gas safety check by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer, and provide their tenants with a copy of the certificate.
Electrical Safety Certificate (EICR)
Landlords must have a valid EICR for new tenancies. A suitably qualified electrician has to certify that the electrical installation and items in your property are safe. Landlords must provide a copy of the report to their tenants at the beginning of the tenancy. These certificates have to be periodically reviewed.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
An Energy Performance Certificate gives information on how energy efficient your rental property is and how it could be improved. You need an EPC when renting a building to a new tenant and when selling a property. They are relatively cheap and easy to organise and are usually valid for up to 10 years.
Smoke Alarms
A landlord is obliged to fit and test smoke alarms. Private sector landlords are required to have at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their rental property.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
A landlord is obliged to fit and test carbon monoxide alarms in a rental property. A carbon monoxide detector has to fitted in any room which contains an appliance which burns solid fuel. Whilst gas and oil boilers do not fall within this category, it is still best practice to install carbon monoxide alarms in properties containing these.
Further helpful resources
For obligations on landlords with property in England and Wales see: https://www.gov.uk/renting-out-a-property
For obligations on landlords with property in Northern Ireland see: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/landlord-and-tenant-obligations
For obligations on landlords with property in Scotland see: https://www.mygov.scot/renting-your-property-out
Disclaimer
This guide is not intended or to be relied on as legal advice, or a comprehensive setting out of your legal obligations as a landlord. It simply sets out some of the key requirements regarding your rental properties. Other legal obligations will also likely apply to you, such as the requirements to process tenancy deposits in accordance with the latest legislation, not to discriminate on grounds of protected characteristics, complying with fire safety rules, carrying out the Right-to-Rent checks, etc. We always recommend that landlords seek professional advice to ensure all their legal obligations are met.