The Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DGLC) Housing Standards Review: technical consultation has caused controversy within the industry following its failure to introduce mandatory electrical safety checks to properties within the private rented sector.
Landlords unaware of new carbon monoxide law
Do you have landlords in your customer base? Are you a landlord yourself? Did you know that from October 1st landlords must have working carbon monoxide detectors fitted in any room with a solid fuel burning combustion appliances.
Posted by Jess Lowe
on 16 September 2015 - Tagged: carbon monoxide gas safety landlords gas safety awareness
Industry to champion new safety certificate for landlords
Thursday 10th December has been earmarked as ‘The Private Rented Sector Safety Shocks’ event, held in Westminster, which will see representatives from across the public and private sectors come together to discuss improving safety in private rented housing.
Carbon Monoxide detector laws tightened in Scotland
Laws relating to carbon monoxide detectors in private rented accommodation have been tightened up in Scotland.
As from 1st December 2015, Scottish landlords are required to install a CO detector in every space containing a fixed combustion appliance. In their Statutory Guidance the Scottish Government advise landlords that “combustion appliances such as boilers, fires, heaters and stoves fuelled by solid fuel, oil or gas all have the potential to cause CO poisoning if they are poorly installed or commissioned, inadequately maintained or incorrectly used.”
HSE shows support for MOT style gas safety certificates
Since the launch of its Gas Access Campaign back in November 2013, the Association for Gas Safety Managers (AGSM) has lobbied to raise awareness of the benefits of moving to an MOT style of Landlord’s Gas Safety Record (LGSR) as well as calling on the government to beef up legal powers allowing social landlords better access to their properties to carry out gas safety checks.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have now put their weight behind the campaign, initiating a comprehensive consultation process on all aspects of the change.
Landlords need to take responsibility for tenant gas safety
New research from Gas Safe Register suggests that landlords’ unawareness of their gas safety responsibilities could be putting 2.7 million renters at risk.
The data, which was gathered over a period of 5 years, found that more than a third (37%) of landlords do not realise that it is their responsibility to ensure that that gas appliances provided by them are safety checked every year by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. In fact, one-in-seven landlords (15%) wrongly believe that gas appliance safety is the responsibility of their local council.
2018 Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for private landlords
As from 1 April 2018, Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) will apply to domestic and non-domestic private landlords in England & Wales.
The new rules will make it illegal for landlords to sign a new lease for certain properties with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of F and G.