Landlords

GUIDE FOR LANDLORDS

Fire & Safety Regulations

The following information is intended only as a guide for landlords and should in no way constitute a detailed interpretation of the regulations. Whilst the regulations might appear onerous they are designed to ensure the safety of the property and the tenants whilst a let is being executed.

Gas safety

(Installation & Use) Regulations 1998
These cover all gas appliances, flues, meters and associated pipe work and require landlords to ensure appliances remain safe at all times and are checked and certified at least once every twelve months. A record of checks carried out by a Corgi registered engineer must be kept. Instruction booklets must be provided for each appliance supplied. Such is the importance of this regulation that we reserve the right to
arrange for an annual Gas safety check of the property, at the landlords expense, should the obligatory Safety Certificate not be available.

Furniture & Furnishings

(Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 Amendment
Regulations 1989 & 1993

This act covers all upholstery and upholstered furniture supplied by the landlord in a rented property, including; beds, footstools, pillows, headboards, mattresses, beanbags, sofa beds, futons etc.
Furniture manufactured between 1950 and 1990 cannot be supplied to a tenant unless it has been professionally re-upholstered with conforming materials, fire retardant spray treatment is not acceptable by the DTI as it is ineffective in affording protection to foam fittings.

The Electrical Equipment

(Safety) regulations 1994
These regulations apply to all persons, who in the course of business, let accommodation which contains electrical equipment. If landlords are supplying the electrical installation and any connected appliances it is essential that they are compliant. There is currently no legal requirement for landlords to have a formal annual safety check of electrical equipment.

However this is open to interpretation, as far as Trading Standards are concerned a landlord must be able to demonstrate that electrical appliances are safe before the property is let. Should any piece of electrical equipment have a fault, which results in injury or fatality, the person responsible for supplying the equipment could be prosecuted. Therefore we recommend annual checks of all electrical appliances by professionals. We hold full details about all the regulations and landlords are advised to seek further guidance from us. Failure to comply with these regulations may constitute a criminal offence under the Consumer Protection act 1987.

Landlords should note that the maximum penalty for non-compliance with these regulations is a fine of £5,000 or 6 months imprisonment.

Where to start

STEP 1 The Property appraisal

The first stage towards putting your property on the market to let is to meet the one of Kingswood representative at the property. We are available Monday to Friday between 9.00am & 5.30pm, or by special appointment at any other times. We provide you with this service free and at no obligation.

STEP 2 Maximising Rental Income

Properties vary, as do the requirements of each landlord, so before the valuation appointment we will be doing our homework, compiling comparable rental details, a market overview and current pricing trends.
During the appointment you will be advised about any items or discuss any issues that may affect the rental yield. We will also advise you of any action you can take to maximise the rental and minimise the time it takes to achieve it.

STEP 3 Presentation

First impressions count. Experience tells us that the presentation of your property will increase the marketability and the level of rental income that we can achieve on your behalf.

It therefore follows that your property should be presented to the highest standard possible to secure an early tenancy. Put yourself in the shoes of a prospective tenant and present your property as appealing and uncluttered as the home you would wish for yourself. Our very experienced team can advise you on all aspects of furnishings, fittings and decorations and if required suggest contractors to assist with any remedial works or improvements prior to your property being made available for letting. We would also suggest that prior to letting you have the property and carpets professionally cleaned. The garden should also appear well tended.

There are a number of key elements to consider when letting a property. In the first instance you need to decide which level of service you would like to use, to enable you to tailor aspects of the service to meet your personal needs.