Landlord Insurance is not just about covering up a property to protect against any unforeseen circumstances that might turn up and impose potential costs, rather it is also about maintaining the statuary of legal requirements that must be adhered to and met to prevent any legal action.
A Landlord apart from getting a cove for his/her property must allow for an annual inspection of gas supply and gas appliances obviously if this is applicable. An inability to abide by this regulation can lead to prosecution and impose quite heavy fines of up to £25,000. It must be borne in mind that this is responsibility of the landlord to arrange for these inspections to be carried out as provided under the Gas Safety Regulations 1994. In addition, both the landlord and the tenant must produce a written report on each appliance.
Not only should a landlord maintain a report on gas certificates but also allow for electrical checks to be carried out. In cases of electrical checks, they must be carried out before the property is actually let to the tenant and a qualified person must carry it out. The idea is to ensure that the electricity supply and the corresponding appliances are legal. The landlord must also ensure that all the electrical equipment is kept in accordance to the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations, in operation since 1997. And this will involve making sure that all the electrical installations and electrical equipment is safely operational. Also, this regulation applies to both the new and second-hand appliances and covers all electrical equipment supplied for the intended use of the tenant.
But not just this, the landlord is also required under the “Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST)” to provide the service free to tenants again provided that the landlord has taken a deposit to join a custodial scheme.
In addition, under the new regulations, Energy Performance Certificates have been included as a legal requirement for the landlord’s property and it is his/her responsibility to produce these. This would include Furnishings and Maintenance.
All furnishings before being handed over to the tenant should comply with the latest fire regulations. If a landlord fails to comply with these conditions, a maximum penalty of £5000 and/or six months imprisonment.
Not just furnishings, but as a landlord, one must under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, give due diligence to the maintenance of the property. Drains, gutters and external pipes must be properly kept so it is not just about the internal structure that must be maintained but also the exterior be given due attention. The supply of water must also be maintained and checked in due course from time and time and equal attention must also be imparted to sanitation and other connected interiors.