Landlord Regulation
Safety requirements for holiday let owners are the same as those for long-term let landlords. It is essential you meet your legal requirements, there are other areas you can easily cover to ensure your guests have a safe visit to your property.
North Dorset Changeovers are proud to work in conjunction with yoursafetyadvisor.com
Gas safety regulations for landlords
When it comes to gas safety in your holiday let, here are the key areas you need to be aware of.
Whether you own a holiday let or are a long-term let landlord, the rules are the same. You, as the landlord, are responsible for the safety of your guests and are required, by law, to hold a valid Gas Safety Certificate.
Gas Safety Certificate
Your gas appliances must be regularly maintained and serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer, you are legally required to obtain a Gas Safety Certificate, also referred to as a CP12.
How do I obtain a Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas safety Certificates can only be issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer after an inspection. The price of this inspection varies dependant on the amount of gas appliances you have in your property. An inspection and certificate from British Gas start at £75.
To find a qualified gas engineer, check the Gas Safe Register.
You will need to renew your Gas Safety Certificate every 12 months.
A copy of your certificate must be displayed in a prominent place where your guests will see it. It must also indicate how they can obtain a copy.
Electrical safety for landlords
Faulty electrics can result in serious injury, death or fire.
What are the regulations?
Unlike gas, there is no legal requirement for you, the landlord, to obtain and renew an Electrical Safety Certificate each year. However, landlords are required, by law, to ensure that all electrical appliances, circuits and fixed installations within the property are safe and are not hazardous to their guests.
Electrical safety checks can be carried out by yourself, but it is strongly recommended that you get a full inspection by a qualified electrician to ensure the electrical items in your holiday let are safe.
Electrical Safety Certificate
Having your property inspected by a qualified electrical engineer against the BS 7671, the UK standard for the safety of electrical installations. Will ensure your electrics are safe. The certificate will prove the competence and uphold your duty of care to your holiday guests. There is however no ‘legal’ requirement for you to obtain a certificate.
How often do you need to renew your Electrical Safety Certificate?
The maximum recommended period between inspections is 5 years.
Electrical safety devices and how they work
Since July 2008, it has become a legal requirement for all circuits in new builds or rewired homes to include an RCD. If your home was built or rewired before this time, then you may want to consider having an electrician inspect your circuits and rewire your home if necessary. At a minimum, you ought to have RCDs added in areas that are damp, such as kitchens, bathrooms, hot tubs or pools.
For more information on electrical safety, take a look at the Health and Safety Executive Guidance.
Fire Safety for Landlords
The risk of fire is present in all holiday lets.
What is a fire safety risk assessment?
Legislation requires you to carry out a fire risk assessment. This assessment will determine if there are any fire hazards and who is at risk. A qualified fire consultant to do this for you will ensure the safety of your guests. You, the landlord, can carry out this assessment if you are familiar with risk assessments.
How to do a fire safety risk assessment?
The risk assessment will focus on the following areas:
Identifying and remove/reduce fire hazards
A fire needs the following three things to start:
- A source of ignition – anything that could start a fire, such as heat, a naked flame or electrical equipment.
- A source of fuel – anything that burns, such as furniture.
- A source of oxygen – without oxygen, fires starve. A draughty property will supply plenty of oxygen for a fire.
A fire risk assessment will identify the sources of the above three things. By identifying these, steps can be taken to reduce their risk. such as ensuring furniture is fire retardant or installing a hearth around a fireplace for example.
Identifying and remove/reduce fire hazards
A fire needs the following three things to start:
- A source of ignition – anything that could start a fire, such as heat, a naked flame or electrical equipment.
- A source of fuel – anything that burns, such as furniture.
- A source of oxygen – without oxygen, fires starve. A draughty property will supply plenty of oxygen for a fire.
A fire risk assessment will identify the sources of the above three things. By identifying these, steps can be taken to reduce their risk. such as ensuring furniture is fire retardant or installing a hearth around a fireplace for example.
Identifying people who are at risk
Be specific – For example, do you cater for people with disabilities or children? Once the people who are at risk have been identified, it is important to assess how easily they will evacuate the property in the event of an emergency.
How often do you renew a fire safety risk assessment?
The laws don’t actually state how regularly this has to be done. As a general guidance, it is recommended that your holiday let is reassessed every 12 months or whenever any changes are made to the property.
Where should smoke alarms be installed?
It is a legal requirement for you to install a smoke alarm on every floor that is used for living space. For the highest protection, an alarm can be installed in every room, except for the bathrooms.
The most reliable type of smoke alarms are those that are wired into your property’s electrical supply and have a separate battery backup in case of a power cut. You should test your smoke alarms frequently to ensure they are in working order.
Fire safety with log burners or open fires
- Having your chimney swept annually
- An adequate hearth
- A suitable fireguard (if you cater for children, then an additional child guard will be necessary)
Oil Safety for Landlords
The following should be considered for the safety of your guests.
There is no legal requirement for holiday let owners to obtain an Oil Safety Certificate. However, it is recommended that you have your appliances and equipment inspected by an OFTEC Registered Technician who can supply a OFTEC CD/12 Landlord Oil Installation Check form.
As with gas, faults in oil appliances can lead to Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Click here for regulations.
Most manufacturer’s instructions recommend checks at least every 12 months. By law (BS 5410), you are required to have your oil-fired appliances and equipment serviced periodically.
It is recommended that you inspect the storage tanks and supply pipes frequently for any leaks.
To find an OFTEC Registered Technician, visit the OFTEC site.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
What causes carbon monoxide poisoning?
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels, such as gas or oil, aren’t burnt fully. Inhaling this gas can be fatal.
How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
Regular servicing of your appliances, such as your boiler
It is a legal requirement to fit a carbon monoxide detector in every room containing a fossil fuel-burning appliance (Boiler/Oven/Log burner)
Holiday Let Safety: Key Points
Gas: You are required by law to hold a valid Gas Safety Certificate.
Electricity: Electrical safety devices ought to be installed in areas that are damp, such as the kitchen.
Fire: Poorly maintained tumble dryers are one of the largest causes of domestic house fires.
Oil: You are required by law to have oil-fired appliances and equipment serviced periodically.
Carbon Monoxide: You must install a carbon monoxide alarm in every room containing a fossil fuel-burning appliance.
Contact Us
If you're looking for an honest and reliable company to help you with your changeovers, please get in touch with us today via the details below or fill in the form and we'll be in touch.
Call: 07960 102 721
Email: contact@northdorsetchangeovers.co.uk