TPO and CTSI launch joint letting fees campaign

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National campaign kicks off in Swansea and Dorset to improve industry compliance and raise awareness among consumers so more landlords and tenants ask about fees when they shop for an agent. The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPO) has launched a new national campaign with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) to tackle lettings agents that are… Read more

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Fire Safety Tips For Landlords

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Being a landlord is a lot more than just collecting the rent every month, as I’m sure you already know. There are many responsibilities which go hand-in-hand.

There are lots of rules and regulations which are in place to protect your investment, but more importantly, they also help to keep your tenants as safe as possible.

A responsible landlord who fulfils all their obligations can sleep easy at night, knowing they have everything covered.

People living in rented accommodation are seven times more likely to have a fire than those living in homes they own.

Thankfully, in England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is in place to keep everyone safe. And likewise, Scotland enforces the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and in Northern Ireland The Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.

In all honesty, they’re a bit complicated. It can be really hard trying to get your head around things and staying on top of everything. So to help you out, Fire Protection Online has put together some tips to make it a little easier.

Detecting A Threat

Everyone is aware of how vital smoke alarms are in keeping people safe. After all, you’re four times more likely to die in a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm.

So despite them sometimes being an annoyance when you burn the bacon, or when they tell you the battery needs replacing, they really are worth it.

They provide an early warning of a potential threat. This can be what prevents a small fire from escalating, and allows everyone to make a swift and safe exit.

And as a bare minimum, you must fit at least one smoke alarm on every floor of any rented home. But for a better level of protection, install smoke alarms in the rooms which people spend most of their time, such as living rooms and bedrooms.

It is also the law to install carbon monoxide alarms in rooms containing a solid fuel appliance, like a fireplace.

For better protection, it’s advisable also to install CO alarms in rooms containing a gas appliance, like a boiler or cooker, and additionally in areas where residents sleep.

Even if the home has no gas or solid fuel appliances, they’re always beneficial. It’s not unknown for carbon monoxide to seep in from neighbouring homes which have CO leaks.

A good rule of thumb is to give tenants the same level of fire protection you would expect in your own home.

There are many different solutions which exist for landlords. For example, alarms with long-life batteries are harder to tamper with and have up to a 10-year guarantee, and wireless alarms mean there is no excuse for an occupant not to hear a smoke alarm.

Fire-Fighting Equipment

Each floor of an HMO must have a fire extinguisher in the communal areas. Other than that, it is not generally a requirement in rented accommodation.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t provide any, however.

Providing tenants with fire blankets fixed to the wall gives them the resources to be able to prevent a small kitchen fire taking hold. And after all, that also reduces the damage caused to your property.

A powder fire extinguisher is also a good multipurpose extinguisher which is suitable for many types of fire. To enable tenants to stay safe, it may also be beneficial to provide them with basic training in its operation when they move it.

But it is vital to remember that with any fire extinguisher you provide, it needs annual servicing, carried out by a trained technician.

Fire Precautions

In an HMO property, you must have a fire risk assessment completed and in writing. They are also a good idea in a standard rental property.

If you feel competent enough, you can do this yourself. There are plenty of guides online to help you through the process.

Alternatively, it is sometimes better to get an outsider’s unbiased perspective. So you may also want to look into having a professional fire risk assessment completed.

Its purpose is to identify fire hazards and reduce those risks as much as practically possible. Plus it will also consider the needs of people who may find themselves caught up in a fire in the property.

For example, it is likely that you will need to install self-closing fire doors with intumescent seals. These will prevent a fire from spreading and allow for the evacuation route to remain clear.

You may also need to provide an alternative exit route, particularly in HMOs which are not on the ground floor.

You are also required to ensure gas and electrical appliances you supply are properly installed, maintained and annually serviced. These need to be carried out by qualified professionals.

By looking after gas appliances, you are reducing the likelihood of CO poisoning. And with PAT testing you’re making sure electrical equipment is not going to cause harm.

It is also worth checking that the fuse boxes have RCD protection. These prevent electrical shocks and reduce the risk of electrical fires.

And Finally

Any furnishings you provide (except carpets and curtains) need to be made of fire-resistant materials.

These furnishings come with a label which confirms this. The Furniture and Furnishings Act 1998 states that you must not remove the label.

Plus, you may want to consider providing tenants with basic fire prevention advice so they can help themselves.

As the property owner, you are the person responsible for ensuring everything is as it should be. Even if you delegate these duties to your letting agent, it is still the landlord who is ultimately responsible.

The courts take failure to comply with the fire safety regulations very seriously. In fact, in 2012 Chester Crown Court fined a landlord £45,000 for eleven fire safety offences. These included broken smoke alarms and combustible materials in corridors.

So it benefits everyone to ensure your rental properties are complying fully with the regulations. Having a safe place to live is one of the most important things in life, so ensure your tenants have such a place which they can call home.

For more information about fire safety in rented accommodation, or in general, the Fire Protection Online website is packed full of info.

Article Courtesy of: www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk

… LandlordZONE.

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Using a Property Company

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Several tax changes announced over the last year or so have left residential landlords reeling from the Government’s concerted attack on the private rented sector. One key question keeps emerging: ‘Should I be using a property company?’ Carl Bayley, author of ‘How to Save Property Tax’ and ‘Using a Property Company to Save Tax’, takes […]

The post Using a Property Company appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

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Catch all the latest private rented sector news, views and developments

admin    Uncategorized     agents

As ever, it has been a busy year for the Private Rented Sector. We’ve seen tax changes, the further role out of licensing, proposed new rules under the Housing & Planning Bill, new rules in relation to Right to Rent under the Immigration Act and much more, not to mention Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Come along to the final Landlord & Letting Show of 2016, taking place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on Wednesday 30th November, to discover what this year’s developments already – or are likely to – signify for the industry and also find out what else is in store as we head into 2017!

You can get top tips and sage advice from industry professionals in the seminars and workshops, question the panelists during their discussion on one of the latest hot topics and pick up some great product and service deals, offers, discounts and more in the exhibition!

Visit the website at www.landlordshow.info to find out more and book your complimentary tickets.

… LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Catch all the latest private rented sector news, views and developments

What are my options for Let to Buy?

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I read this wonderful website and it’s so helpful half of my knowledge as landlord is coming from here. So thank you to all of who contribute to this place. I need urged advice and opinion from everyone regarding a situation in which I am at this point. I have two properties one BTL and… Read more

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How to approach replacing a set of something when only one has been damaged?

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The question arises in relation to pet damage caused to a kitchen unit door. The property was occupied as a HMO which a group of friends occupied. Two of them jointly requested permission to ‘get a dog’ – which resulted in two puppies (from the same litter) being brought back to the property. Unfortunately the… Read more

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Lord Flight condemns buy-to-let tax

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Following George Osborne’s swinging tax reforms, which will undoubtedly have a big impact on buy-to-let landlords; a senior Conservative Peer has reacted with accusations that the former Chancellor has exacerbated the housing crisis through his “cash grab” on landlords. Lord Flight, who previously served as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has used an article […]

… LandlordZONE.

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RLA seeks legal advice in row over licensing

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The RLA is taking legal advice in a row over selective licensing discounts. The association is currently involved in a dispute with Liverpool City Council, after a member of the authority’s landlord accreditation scheme was told they would not receive discounts on licence fees for newly purchased properties. The free CLASS accreditation scheme was set […]

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Today I launch my comprehensive report on Section 24 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2015

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Today I launch my comprehensive report: Section 24 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2015: “the unjust legislation that will make the UK housing crisis much worse.” I would like to thank all of those who have contributed to this report, which I hope will have a significant impact in our campaign to reverse this… Read more

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Start up advice please for a property business?

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First of all, thank you for creating and managing the web site which I find very useful in this changing environment. I have read most (if not all) of the articles trying to get my head around all the current and new requirements and I still have so many questions. I hope I can get… Read more

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