Landlords and the Law

The law is there to protect both landlords and tenants so it’s vital for landlords to be aware of their legal and moral obligations. Not only must a rental property be well maintained,  landlords must also keep up to date with changing legislation, adhere to health and safety regulations, abide by the Landlord & Tenant Act and ensure all financial transactions meet the legal requirements. 

“New landlords often ask our advice but it’s just as important for seasoned landlords with numerous investment properties to keep on the right side of law which is continuously being updated,” said Nicola Croft, property manager at Henry Adams in Storrington. 

“For example, a recent change in legislation requires landlords to ensure their rental properties have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed, where required. This applies to all existing and future tenancies, so landlords should make sure any existing rental property complies with the latest safety legislation.  

“As always a gas safety certificate should be issued by a registered GasSafe engineer and the certificate of the annual inspection for all gas appliances, which again is a mandatory,  must be provided to both tenant and landlord, bringing peace of mind to both parties.”  

Nicola also confirms that the landlord is responsible for ensuring that the electrics and fuse board in the property are safe. “It is recommended that a fixed wiring test is carried out by a qualified NICEIC electrician to ensure the safety of the property and tenants.” 

On the financial side, a tenant’s security deposit (for all Assured Shorthold Tenancies) must be protected within 30 days of receipt through one of the Government approved schemes, such as the Tenancy Deposit Scheme currently used by Henry Adams. 

The experienced ARLA accredited lettings team is always on hand to offer comprehensive advice to both new and existing landlord clients, so please contact  any of Henry Adams’s local offices at Billingshurst, Haywards Heath, Horsham or Storrington (01903 745511), or visit their website at www.henryadams.co.uk for more information.