Over the past few years a number of important
pieces of legislation have been introduced which
relate to landlords obligations when letting
their properties. We have provided a brief
précis of these below but if you require any
further information on a particular subject
please contact us .
The Furniture &
Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1993
 These regulations affect all
Landlords in the private and public sector who
let accommodation. They apply to furniture and
furnishings included in holiday homes and
residential furnished accommodation (such as
houses, flats and bedsits) which are let in the
course of business.
The 'amendment' made in
February 1993, means that furniture not meeting
the fire resistance requirements of the 1988
Regulations can continue to be supplied in
accommodation until 31st December 1996, provided
that it was included in the letting of the same
accommodation prior to 1st March 1993.
From 1st March 1993,
furniture (whether new or second-hand) which is
additional to or in replacement of existing
furniture in accommodation let prior to this date
must comply with all the fire resistance
requirements.
Also, from 1st March 1993,
all furniture (except furniture made before 1950)
included in accommodation which is made available
for let for the first time must meet all the fire
resistance requirements.
The regulations relate to
all soft upholstered furniture, including
mattresses, cushions, etc. Non-compliance carries
a punishment of up to six months imprisonment
and/or a £5000 fine. These penalties are for
allowing the accommodation to be let with the
non- compliant furniture. Should a fire occur at
the property and the furnishings were found to be
in some way contributory to death or injury, more
severe penalties may apply.
FROM THE 1ST JANUARY 1997
ALL FURNISHINGS SITUATED IN RENTED ACCOMMODATION
MUST COMPLY TO THE SAID REGULATIONS.
Gas Safety (Installation
and Use) Regulations 1994
The British Gas Safety
regulations now state that Landlords are
responsible to ensure that all gas appliances
left in their Property i.e. Gas fires, cookers
and central heating boilers MUST BE SERVICED AT
LEAST ANNUALLY and that a Gas Safety Certificate
must be provided to the Tenants.
Failure to comply with this
legislation carries severe penalties and we must
therefore insist that either you attend to this
matter before the Property is let or that we are
given instructions to ask either the Gas Board or
a Corgi registered contractor to undertake these
works.
The Electricity Equipment
(Safety) Regulations 1994
 The safety of Consumer Goods is
controlled by the requirements of the Consumer
Protection Act 1987. These requirements extend to
"consumer goods" supplied in rented
accommodation.
The Landlord is responsible
for ensuring that safety rules are complied with
- in particular that all electrical appliances
must be safe for use.
The safest way to avoid
prosecution is to have all electrical appliances
checked and serviced by a competent electrician.
Most appliances purchased since June 1989 should
meet the relevant British Standards.
Smoke Alarms
The Building Regulations
1991 require that all properties built since June
1992 must have mains operated interlinked smoke
alarms fitted on every floor. We must strongly
recommend the fitting of smoke alarms to your
property if you have not already done so prior to
a tenants occupation.
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