Whether you are a tenant or someone looking to become a landlord, it’s worth knowing the basic responsibilities of landlords so you can avoid any future problems with your agreement and contract.
Health and safety
Of course, all landlords must ensure that their property is fully safe and secure for tenants to live in. This means that the property should adhere to all safety rules regulations, including:
- Gas safety
- Electrical safety
- Fire safety
Every landlord must make sure that gas equipment and electrical systems in the property are safely installed and maintained by a professional on a regular basis. Any electrical appliances that come with the property, like kettles or cookers, must be checked to ensure they are safe at the outset of letting it out.
To promote fire safety, all standard safety regulations should be followed. For example, the Fire Safety Order includes the necessary provision of a smoke alarm on every floor. A thorough risk assessment must be carried out before tenants move in to make sure everything is compliable to all safety standards.
Money
All landlords have to follow a series of rules in regards to rent – there are official guidelines about deposits, how rent should be paid, and when rent should be paid. The matter of how much rent should be paid will be dictated in the contract, and will be agreed upon by both the landlord and the tenant. But what happens if the landlord wants to increase the rent price?
Again, this can be found in the official guidelines for landlords but in short, rent can only be increased at certain times during the tenancy, and only under specific circumstances. This can depend on the type of tenancy it is and what it says in the agreement, if anything, about when it can go up.
It’s also essential that all deposits paid by tenants are put into a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme by the landlord. This is to ensure that they are properly protected and are guaranteed to be returned to the tenant at the end of their contract.
Repairs
Most repairs on a rented property are the responsibility of the landlord. They are in charge of any repairs necessary to maintain the exterior or structure of the property, as well as making sure that the equipment for supplying water, electricity and gas are all in working order.
Tenants who have problems like a broken shower, a leaking pipe or a faulty light switch are advised to get in touch with their landlord immediately, and to not handle these problems on their own. If you’re a landlord, it’s worthwhile making a detailed note of what should be required of your tenants in these kinds of situations, to ensure their safety at all times.
If you’re a tenant who’s having trouble with a landlord, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We can help resolve any landlord and tenant issues here at Attwood & Co.