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Health & Safety - Renting, Leasing & Letting Furnished or Unfurnished PropertyParamount Letting Agents: If you are thinking of renting, leasing or letting a furnished or unfurnished house, flat, studio, loft or apartment, we can advise on all health & safety issues for landlords and tenants. Paramount Property Magazine provides news, info, advice and help for landlords and tenants regarding health and safety issues. Follow the links for news concerning health & safety issues, landlord & tenant legislation, letting agents regulations, London property management, property for rent in London, rental housing sectors, Association of Residential Letting Agents. London Property Investments: Search our property investment sales list of commercial, licensed, industrial, leisure, office, retail, residential, healthcare and student property investments in North, South, East, West & Central London. Register with Paramount Investments to receive our property management newsletter with expert advice and the latest news, reports & surveys for landlords and tenants including regulations for fire, gas and electrical safety, energy performance certificates, furnishings, carbon monoxide, etc Landlord and Tenant News: Landlord Syndicate offers winter tips Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:35:34 +0000 After a period of mild temperatures the cold snap is finally upon us and the Landlord Syndicate is urging landlords to do all they can to prepare the properties for the freezing conditions. The independent network for property investors says that landlords should arrange a suitable time to visit tenants and make checks both to both the inside and outside of the property. This includes inspecting all pipes, ensuring that water tanks are adequately insulated and overflow pipes are not blocked. On the outside, all gutters and downpipes should be clean and free from cracks, while gratings should be cleared of leaves or any other debris which may have built up over time. Eddie Hooker, CEO of Total Landlord Insurance, which is aiding the Landlord Syndicate with its advice, added: "Most importantly, we advise landlords to ensure tenants know where the stopcock or isolation valves are located in case they have to turn off the water to any part of the property.” Similarly the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) said last month that landlords need to make managing their properties a key health and safety priority over the coming months. Health and safety issues for landlords: Take precautions over winter, says ARLA Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:18:03 +0000 Landlords have been urged to make managing their properties a key health and safety priority over the winter months. Health & Safety News: Gas checks 'are vital' Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:32:14 +0100 Ensuring gas appliances are safe in rental properties is one of the many health and safety issues for landlords to consider. Jeff Learman, director of communications at Gas Safe Register, pointed out that cost is what deters many people from booking an annual safety check on their gas devices. "But would we, for example, go year on year without checking our car to ensure it’s safe? We should be doing the same with gas appliances once a year, and even though some would say price is an issue, what cost for the safety of our family?" Given that carbon monoxide poisoning can kill, paying a small, one-off fee once a year is not something that should be skipped. Landlords with property to rent in London and other parts of the UK have a legal requirement to arrange a gas safety check within 12 months of a new appliance or flue being installed, and a yearly check thereafter. Those renting out property must also give each tenant a copy of the safety check within 28 days of the inspection being completed. London Property to Rent: Tips for student landlords Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:16:11 +0100 Investors in student accommodation in London should consider "location, location, location" as their first priority, according to homesforstudents.co.uk. Jonathan Moore, director of the website, noted that properties within walking distance of university buildings, shops, transport links and the city centre are what every university applicant will be looking for. "Decide how long you want your investment to be and look at each area carefully to check on the level of the demand. There is no greater headache for a student landlord than an unoccupied property," he pointed out. There are also plenty of health and safety issues for landlords to consider, such as ensuring the property is safe, suitable fixtures are installed and the gas system has been checked by a qualified professional. "It's crucial that landlords are clear about what is included in the rent of the property - making bills inclusive for example can save future difficulties and hassle," Mr Moore said, adding that collecting rent by direct debit or standing order is a good idea. London Property to Rent: Tips for owners of student accommodation in London Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:31:07 +0100 Landlords who own student accommodation in London have been given some tips about how best to deal with their tenants. James Davis, chief executive of Upad.co.uk, noted that students tend not to have an income and will not necessarily pass credit checks. "Make sure you have got a guarantor from their parents for example, should anything go wrong," he advised. There are also health and safety issues for landlords to consider. "There is a rise in councils classifying student-occupied houses as multiple occupations. Make sure you are complying with legislation," Mr Davis added. His comments came after research from HSBC found many parents of university students are planning to cut down on the level of financial support they provide to their offspring when the fees go up. On the other hand, some seven per cent of parents are planning to purchase a student buy to let property to save money on rent. Residential Landlords News: London landlord urges gas safety checks Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:11:32 +0100 Gas safety is one of many health and safety issues for landlords to think about. Social landlord Hackney Homes has gone to great lengths to ensure its tenants are protected against faulty gas appliances by removing 50 cookers in council housing homes. The move come as figures from the London Fire Brigade show the biggest cause of blazes in Hackney is unattended cooking, which can quickly catch light and set fire to other parts of the home if someone is not there to supervise it. The London property management organisation is therefore urging tenants to check that their gas cooker is installed correctly and is safe to use. Hackney Homes is also fitting CO monitors when it carries out yearly gas safety checks in its properties. Meanwhile, a landlord from Plymouth was fined for failing to produce a gas safe landlords certificate for two years, as well as breaching other property management regulations. Residential Landlords News: RLA to host free event for London landlords Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:05:42 +0100 Those who are in the London property management sector could attend a free event to learn more about their industry. Hosted at University College London on April 19th, the London and South East Landlords Day will focus on ways to improve housing standards and meet legal obligations as a landlord. It may also focus on the myriad health and safety issues for landlords to consider. "We know that many landlords work tirelessly to provide the best accommodation possible, but access to real help, advice and information can always be challenging," noted the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), co-host of the event. Whatever the size of the portfolio, all who work in property management in the south-east are welcome to attend the day event. It comes after RLA warned young people will face a shortage of rental accommodation after the government announced an extension in the age of tenants who can apply for housing benefit for shared housing. Health & Safety News: Landlords 'must provide gas safety check record' Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:10:29 +0100 Gas safety is one of the many health and safety issues for landlords to consider. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into a landlord in Portsmouth has led to a large fine because he failed to provide a Gas Safety Check Record for more than two years and breached the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998. The landlord had also failed to make improvements to his rental property even after the local council took enforcement action against him. HSE inspector Dozie Azubike commented: "Landlords have a legal obligation to provide tenants with an annual Gas Safety Check Record, verifying that gas appliances have been checked and comply with regulations." Meanwhile, the Electrical Safety Council is calling for safety certificates to be provided for electrical installations in a bid to protect tenants from faulty wiring or appliances. As an estimated one in every eight homes is a rental property, the organisation claims it is particularly urgent to sort out health and safety issues for tenants. Health & Safety News: Landlords reminded to tackle carbon monoxide dangers Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:15:35 +0000 A new reminder has been issued regarding the danger of carbon monoxide, which is one of many health and safety issues for landlords. Confused.com's head of utilities, Gareth Kloet, pointed out that as the cold weather is set to continue, it may be a good idea to check that each property has an up to date gas safety certificate. "This is a legal requirement in rental properties but should be considered essential for all households," he noted. "I'd encourage everyone to get gas appliances checked before switching them on and to check that chimneys, flues and vents have not become blocked over the summer." Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal because the emissions cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. It can cause headaches, nausea and fainting and can affect the health if an individual is exposed over the long-term. Those with landlord licences can purchase carbon monoxide detectors for the high-risk areas in their rental properties and will alert the occupant if there is an excessive level of the gas in a home. Residential Landlords News: Landlord insurance should be considered in flood-risk areas Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:03:49 +0000 Individuals considering buying a house to rent out should think about landlord insurance to prevent against the risk of flooding . This is the view of Malcolm Tarling, media relations officer at the Association of British Insurers, who noted that scientific research points to the likelihood of a higher flood risk in coming years. "What we have seen is an increase in the cost of flood claims; in the UK the predictions are that flooding is going to get more severe," he said. "We've commissioned independent research that shows the implications of rising sea levels will put many more properties at risk in the UK." In this case, cover against water damage may be one of the many health and safety issues for landlords. Mr Tarling's comments come after research from Munich Re found that 2010's insurance claim losses totalled $130 billion (£84 billion) after the 12-month period reported the second-highest number of natural disasters on record. Property Repossession News: Homes in need of redevelopment 'will have health and safety issues' Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:58:41 +0000 Those thinking of purchasing property in need of restoration must be aware of health and safety issues when it comes to refurbishing buildings, Giffard has said. Glen Irwin, sustainability director at the company, commented that sealed properties suitable for redevelopment will often have condensation problems and damp smells. Speaking at the Sustainability Now event, he urged restoration project managers to be very careful when it comes to carrying out redevelopment tasks. "You have got to think about what you are setting in place - try and pre-empt that you are going to have an air-quality humidity issue and then put other interventions in to deal with that," he suggested. When it comes to insulating lofts, roofs and walls, five millimetres is enough to offer the best saving overall in terms of cost. "Everybody thinks automatically that they have got to have two inches of insulation, so they have lost four inches across the width of the room," Mr Irwin explained, adding that nobody has to go to these extremes to make savings. Healthy & Safety News: Weather damage cost £1.1m last month Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:19:27 +0000 Winter weather is one of many health and safety issues for landlords, who need to ensure their properties can withstand the severe conditions. As snow and ice continues to affect many parts of the country, insurance provider Santander is highlighting the importance of preparing homes for the winter. It pointed out that the estimated cost of storm and snow damage during the current cold snap is £1.1 million. With further severe weather forecast in several areas, this figure could continue rising in the weeks ahead. As well as physically preparing properties for wintry conditions, Santander also recommended that property owners secure landlord insurance to cover against any damage that does occur. The group suggested keeping insurance documents in water-tight containers and having a photographic record of the contents of the property as evidence for claims. Colin Greenhill, director of Santander Insurance, said: "The British weather is as unpredictable as it is uncontrollable but we can all ensure that should the worst happen we are correctly insured." Residential Landlords News: Older people 'more likely to take on DIY projects' Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:56:32 +0000 Off shore landlords with property in London might be interested to hear that there is an age divide when it comes to carrying out maintenance work around the house. According to research from Saga, more over-50s will willingly take on repair works in the home compared with the younger generations. The study found more than a quarter of over-50s will replace loose or missing roof tiles to protect their homes from water damage over the winter, compared with one per cent of those aged 25-34-years-old. Some 38 per cent of older people will also sort out the garden by trimming bushes and cutting back trees to protect their homes from damage in bad weather, while 90 per cent of the 18-24 age group said they would not do this. Ros Altmann, director-general of the Saga Group, commented: "The older generations are far more willing to get hands on when it comes to preparing their home for winter. In contrast, the younger generation is less willing to give it a go themselves, [but] whether this is due to a lack of know-how or time constraints is not clear." She said it is "sensible" for tenants and landlords to get rental properties ready for the winter, as this could save time and money in the long run. Owners of rental properties could also take out landlord insurance to protect against flood damage when snow thaws. Health & Safety News: Campaign highlights fire safety measures Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:26:28 +0000 While there are plenty of health and safety issues for landlords, a campaign has highlighted the importance of protecting homes against fires over the winter months. If rental properties feature a chimney, landlords should ensure it is swept and a British Standard fire guard is provided to prevent sparks from escaping and setting fire to furnishings, the Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Services' 365alive initiative explains. Landlords must also provide a working smoke alarm and instruct tenants to test it regularly - once a week is the recommended amount. Health and safety issues for tenants include making sure all electric blankets are turned off before they go to bed and setting out a fire escape plan in case of emergencies. The advice comes after the deaths of two youngsters in Cornwall, who died when a fire broke out in the rented home in Torquay last year. The house did not contain a smoke alarm. Meanwhile, the Protection of Tenants (Fire Safety) bill is currently awaiting its Second Reading in the House of Commons. If passed, the legislation could force landlords to fit smoke alarms in all rental properties. Health & Safety News: Landlords 'should find qualified engineer to prevent carbon monoxide leakage' Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:46:06 +0000 Among the many health and safety issues for landlords is that of odourless carbon monoxide poisoning, which, according to 1st Action, can be a "tremendous danger" to homeowners and tenants. Richard Clarke, chair at the plumbing and heating firm, said the priority for householders should be safety, not cost, when it comes to finding a qualified gas boiler engineer. "I am a great believer that they have got to have a proper, qualified engineer and carbon monoxide has to be treated very seriously," he explained. The onus is also on buy to let property owners to ensure the house they are letting is fully functional and safe for human habitation. "When we see landlords with tenanted properties, it is even more critical that it is checked. They do have gas safety checks as part of the requirements for tenanted properties, but of course not for your own property," Mr Clarke added. His comments follow a reminder from the National Landlords Association that landlords are legally required to check gas appliances yearly to prevent carbon monoxide leakage. Residential Landlords News: Landlord insurance 'could protect against flood damage' Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:51:14 +0000 Owners of rental homes at risk of flooding this winter should take out landlord insurance to protect their property from damage. According to Graeme Trudgill, head of corporate affairs at the British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba), off shore landlords with property in London and other parts of the UK can easily access valuable information about flood risks. "If you are in a flood risk area it is really important to sign up to the Environment Agency flood alert line, then you will know if there is a flood warning," he explained. Should the worst happen and a home is flooded this winter, landlords who want to protect their rental yields and returns in London should repair their property in a "resilient way". "When you are putting your boiler back and your plug sockets back, just put them a bit higher up the wall, above the flooding level. You won't then be out of your house for so long, it won't cost so much to repair [in future]," Mr Trudgill pointed out. This week, Cornwall has withstood the worst weather conditions, with many homes being flooded. London Property News: Health and safety issues for landlords 'involve deterring squatters' Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:43:04 +0000 Among the many health and safety issues for landlords to consider is the matter of squatters and the founder of Landlord Action believes owners of rental properties in London should take steps to make their homes unappealing to such people. Paul Shamplina commented: "For both commercial landlords and residential landlords, the key is to ensure that void periods are minimised and the property does not appear to be unoccupied." He noted that smaller landlords are usually targeted, which can put them under large amounts of financial and emotional strain, particularly because squatters are becoming more versed in their legal rights. His comments come after the Ministry of Justice issued guidelines for dealing with squatters, which include calling the police and reporting a criminal offence. Landlord Insurance cover could be useful to have if squatters have caused criminal damage and this should be reported to the police, the guidance states. Anyone found squatting in an empty property could be removed under Section 7 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, which outlines the offence of trespassing on residential premises after being asked to leave by or on behalf of a displace residential occupier or a protected intending occupier. London Property News: 'Installing locks' could clear up health and safety issues for landlords Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:27:22 +0100 The issue of home security is one of many health and safety issues for landlords, but the British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba) has suggested that homeowners invest in industry-approved locks and alarms. "The locks you get are important - make sure you've got the industry-approved ones because then you can get a discount on your insurance," suggested Graeme Trudgill, technical and corporate affairs executive at Biba. "Have them fitted by a proper fitter and, if the budget permits, go [for] an alarm system as that is an extra deterrent." Off shore landlords with property in London will want peace of mind with regard to their overseas buildings, so it is equally important to have adequate insurance on homes to ensure a loss of valuables will not put them out of pocket, Mr Trudgill added. His comments follow research by Mintel, which found less than half (46 per cent) of homeowners have protected their properties against the risk of burglary with security measures such as extra window and door locks. London Property News: Unqualified gas workers 'can cause health and safety issues for landlords' Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:01:53 +0100 Employing an unregistered engineer to sort out gas work in rental properties can cause health and safety issues for landlords, Gas Safe Register has warned. Phill Brewster, national investigations manager at the official body, commented on research from the organisation revealing how many householders ask unqualified workers to carry out improvements to gas systems. He stated that it is crucial to employ the right person for the job because dangerous gas work can cost lives. "If a boiler is fitted by a gas fitter who isn't registered to do the work, then not only is it putting your life in danger but it could end up costing hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds to rip out and start again," he pointed out. His comments may come as a surprise to off shore landlords with property in London, because the research found over a third (35 per cent) of people would use the services of a gas fitter if a friend or family member recommended them. Additionally, 12 per cent of respondents admitted they would ask an untrained friend or relative to do the job. London Property News: Survey reveals private landlords mistreat tenants Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:23:51 +0100 A new survey from housing charity Shelter reveals that many landlords continue to mistreat tenants, flouting laws such as the Landlord & Tenant Act, designed to protect those who rent. According to the report, some landlords in the private sector are not treating their tenants properly or are letting out properties unfit to live in. The study found that around 90 per cent of environmental health officers who dealt directly with private tenants said they encountered landlords who harassed or illegally evicted their tenants. Six out of ten environmental health officers also reported that more than half of the cases they dealt with involving rogue landlords also involved people from vulnerable groups. Some properties visited were found to have no heating, hot water or electricity, while others contained no kitchen facilities or fire precautions. Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: "It is simply not acceptable that people are handing over their hard earned cash to live in houses that are run-down, squalid and in some cases even dangerous." |
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