As a landlord there are legal obligations and responsibilities
that you must understand & be aware of. The main ones include;
gas appliance testing, fire safety, electrical wiring, deposit protection & energy performance certificates.

It is imperative that landlords take these regulations seriously as failure to comply can lead to large fines or even imprisonment. At Meridian we are here to advise all of our landlords of these regulations and to help them take the necessary steps to ensuring they are abided by. Below we have listed the main regulations in detail.

The Gas Safety Regulations 1998
It is a landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that all gas burning appliances and installations are maintained in good order and are checked for safety at least every 12 months by a gas safe registered Engineer. Meridian is happy to organise a Gas Safe check and certification on your behalf. All of our engineers offer the highest standard of workmanship. contact us for more information.

The Eletrical Equipment (Safety)
Regulations 1994When letting a property, you must ensure that the electrical system and all appliances supplied are safe as failure to comply with the regulations can result in fines, imprisonment and the tenant may also be able to sue for civil damages. There is currently no statutory requirement to have annual electrical safety checks under the Housing Act, but this is set to change in the near future.

Even so with the onus being on the Landlord to ensure safety, it is strongly advisable to have periodic checks carried out by a qualified Electrician. In particular, Landlords are advised to check that the earthing and insulation of all electrical circuits and appliances within the property are up to standard.

Equipment or wiring which is deemed
to be unsafe includes defects such as:

• Badly frayed or damaged insulation
• Old or exposed wires, poorly fitted or cracked plugs
• Scorch marked or badly damaged sockets
• Plugs without sleeved insulated pins

Anything which is identified as being potentially unsafe should be replaced immediately with equipment which complies with BS and EC standards.

The Fire and Furnishings (Fire Safety)
Regulations 1988/ 1993As a landlord you must ensure that furnishings carry a manufacturer's permanent and fixed label showing compliance at the point of sale.

It is also the legal responsibility of the Landlord to ensure that any furniture supplied to Tenants complies with these regulations. If possible, buy new from a reputable retailer as second hand furniture is more risky.
• Keep all purchase receipts
• The regulations apply to:
• Arm chairs, three piece suites, sofas, sofa beds, futons and other convertible furniture.
• Beds, Bed bases and headboards, mattresses, divans and pillows.
• Nursery furniture
• Garden furniture which could be used indoors
• Loose, stretch and fitted covers for furniture, scatter cushions, seat pads and pillows.
• Bed bases and mattresses are not required to bear a permanent label but compliance will be indicated if the item has a label stating that it meets BS7177

The regulations do not currently apply to:
• Antique furniture or furniture manufactured before 1950
• Bed clothes and duvets
• Loose mattress covers
• Curtains
• Carpets

Any items purchased for the property after the start date of the tenancy agreement must also comply with these Regulations for the duration of the tenancy. For further information please contact us today or call 01202 548548.

The Energy Performance of Building Regulations 2007/2008
It is now mandatory for all Landlords and Agents to provide Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to all new prospective Tenants at point of marketing a property To Let or renewing a tenancy on a fixed term basis. An EPC will last for 10 years.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC's) became mandatory for all new tenancies whether the tenant has occupied the property before 1st October 2008 or not. An 'Energy Assessor' will be required to visit the property to ascertain information regarding its energy efficiency and then produce a report based on this information. This report is to be made generally available but especially to prospective tenants viewing the property.

Meridian can organise an EPC on your behalf at a competitive rate, simply contact us today or call 01202 548548 for more information.

For more information on all our Landlord Services
please contact us by phone: 020 7272 9988
or: landlords@aristonproperty.co.uk

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