Health and Safety

Safety of gas and electrical appliances

You are required by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to ensure that all gas appliances are maintained in good order and that an annual safety check is carried out by a tradesman who is registered with CORGI (Council for Registered Gas Installers).

You must keep a record of the safety checks and issue it to the tenant within 28 days of each annual check. You are not responsible for maintaining gas appliances which the tenant is entitled to take with him or her at the end of the letting.

Further guidance is contained in the leaflet Gas appliances – get them checked, keep them safe, available, free of charge, from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE): telephone 01787 881165 or www.HSE.gov.uk.

You should ensure that the electrical system and any electrical appliances that you supply such as cookers, kettles, toasters, washing machines and immersion heaters are safe to use.

New rules for electrical safety in the home came into effect on 1 January 2005 in England and Wales. From this date people carrying out electrical work in kitchens, bathrooms or outdoors or adding new circuits to any part of their house will have to follow the new rules in the Building Regulations. The alternative is to get the work carried out by a suitably qualified electrician.

There is further information in the leaflet ‘New rules for electrical safety in the home’ or visit: www.communities.gov.uk/electricalsafety.

Fire safety of furniture and furnishings

You must ensure that any furniture and furnishings you supply meet the fire resistance requirements in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, unless you are letting on a temporary basis whilst, for example, working away from home. The Regulations apply if the let is for a longer period or for a series of lets, where the property is regarded primarily as a source of income rather than your home. If you are not sure whether the regulations apply to you, seek advice from the Trading Standards Department of your local authority.

The regulations set levels of fire resistance for domestic upholstered furniture. All new and second hand furniture provided in accommodation that is let for the first time, or replacement furniture in existing let accommodation, must meet the fire resistance requirements unless it was made before 1950. Most furniture will have a manufacturer’s label on it saying if it meets the requirements. Further guidance can be found in the booklet A Guide to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations. This can be downloaded from www.dti.gov.uk.