Before considering carrying out a risk assessment you should familiarise yourself in particular with the following HSE publications: Quick Guide to Legionnaire’s risk assessment including a free risk assessment form Legionnaire’s disease: A brief guide for dutyholders –http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg458.pdf Legionnaire’s disease Part 2: The control the relevant part of Legionella in hot and cold water […]
There is a duty on landlords to ensure that all electrical equipment supplied by them, either new or second hand, is safe for use by their tenants. This is because there are two primary Acts of Parliament that impose a statutory duty on landlords with respect to the safety of electrical equipment: 1. The Consumer […]
New measures to improve the energy performance of our buildings. Buildings are responsible for almost 50 per cent of the UK’s energy consumption and carbon emissions. Communities and Local Government has introduced measures in England and Wales to improve the energy efficiency of our buildings, including: introducing energy performance certificates (EPCs) for properties providing A-G efficiency […]
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required for all homes whenever built, rented or sold. If you are buying or selling a home it is now law to have a certificate. They are also required on construction of new homes and are needed for rented homes the first time the property is let after 1 […]
Perhaps now is an opportune time to review the process of using section 21 notices as a recent court decision (Spencer v Taylor 2013), after 25 years of use of these notices, could be a real game changer. Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 provides a no blame eviction process where the landlord does […]
Landlords take deposits to give them financial security should tenants: (1) cause damage in the property, (2) leave the place needing extensive cleaning, (3) leave possessions in the property which need expensive removal, or (3) leave owing rent. Landlords / Agents should ensure that the letting agreement (contract) provides for all these reasons for retaining […]
From the 1st October 2015 regulations require both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in rented residential accommodation. Changes are also made to the licence requirements in relation to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), such as shared houses and bedsits which require a licence and also in relation to properties which are […]
Letting a property can be financially worthwhile, and in today’s property market renting is becoming the favoured option for an increasing number of people. The latest development is the introduction of Tenancy Deposit Schemes. If you are considering becoming a landlord or tenant, it is more important than ever to take expert legal advice […]
When you rent out a property two vital stages in the process are when you check-in your tenants at the start of the tenancy and check-out at the end. Preparation is the key to a trouble free let. When you prepare properly you are carrying out management processes so that nothing is left to chance […]
