Looking after your property

As of 20 March 2019, the Fitness for Human Habitation Act is in force for tenancies in England. This legislation amended the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 so that landlords must ensure their property is fit for human habitation at the start of the tenancy and then maintain this standard throughout rest of the time the tenant lives in the property.

In most cases in the private rented sector, landlords are expected to keep any property they let to tenants, in a good state of repair and well maintained. Equally, tenants are expected to ensure they act in a 'tenant-like manner' and not cause damage to the property besides anything that would class as 'fair wear and tear'.

Need to gain access to perform a repair? Use our access letter templates

For private rented sector tenancies the landlord is obligated to perform the bulk of repairs to the property. However tenants are still under obligations themselves. Tenants are expected to act responsibly and return the property back to the landlord at the end of the tenancy in much the same way they found it. This is subject to the important disclaimer that the tenant is not responsible for repairs that are needed due to the passage of time. This 'fair wear and tear' is something the landlord must absorb the costs for.

Private landlords must ensure every electrical installation in their residential premises is inspected and tested at intervals of no more than 5 years by a qualified and competent person.

The regulations came into force in England on 1 June 2020. From 1 July 2020, all new specified tenancies will need to comply with this requirement. This will be extended to all existing specified tenancies from 1 April 2021.

Private landlords are required to have their property's gas installations and appliances checked for safety on an annual basis. They are also required to provide a record of this to their tenants prior to occupational within 28 days of each further annual check while their tenants are in the property.

Need to gain access to perform a repair? Use our access letter templates

Portable appliance testing (PAT) is the term used to describe the examination of electrical appliances and equipment to ensure they are safe to use. Where a landlord provides an electrical appliance as part of a tenancy, the law expects the appliance will be maintained in a safe condition that will not cause harm to the tenant.

The aim of home adaptations is to make it easier and safer for people to access and use their homes. 

The NRLA have launched adaptations guidance for landlords. The first of its kind, the guidance was developed with the support of expert partners, and aims to support landlords in better managing tenant requests for home adaptations. The guidance covers what adaptations are, who needs them, who carries them out and how to manage the end of tenancies after adaptations have been made.

Around 36% of households in the PRS have children living in them. A rise of over half a million households since 2010. With so many more children in the PRS, it makes sense for landlords to consider what they can do to provide a property that is safe for them to live in. This guide talks about the adaptations you can make to your property to make it safer for children.

The NRLA has produced a sample letter to send to your tenants as temperatures begin to drop. This letter includes guidance for tenants on how to reduce risks caused by common cold weather issues in the home and what to do if a problem has occurred.

Condensation is the appearance of water on cold surfaces. It occurs where moist air comes into contact with air, or a surface, which is at a lower temperature. It can form on any surface and it may not be noticed until mould growth or rotting of material occurs.

This page provides resources on how to minimise condensation in the property for landlords and a downloadable factsheet for tenants, explaining how they can prevent its build-up.

Landlords of residential accommodation have responsibilities for combating Legionnaires' Disease. Health and safety legislation requires that landlords carry out risk assessments for the Legionella bacteria which cause Legionnaires' Disease and thereafter maintain control measures to minimise the risk. Most rented premises will be low risk but it is important that risk assessments are carried out and control measures introduced.

Need to perform a legionella risk assessment? Use our template

Need to update a previous assessment? Use our risk review form

The legislative framework for fire safety is complex in the private rented sector. Depending on the type of property you own, or the type of tenancy you are letting, you may have different requirements that you may have to follow. This guide provides an overview of which legislation applies to a number of different scenarios.

If you are providing furniture as part of your tenancy then you must ensure you are complying with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988. This legislation requires you to have sufficiently fire resistant furniture in the property and evidence this by ensuring there is permanent labelling stating this.

To allow members to perform a risk assessment the NRLA has produced a risk assessment template for use in conjunction with the LACORS guidance.

From January 23rd 2023, landlords in control of communal parts of flats or houses in multiple occupation (room only tenancies) will have new requirements placed on them. 

This guidance covers these latest updates and the requirements of the Fire Safety Order. 

This guide focuses on the fire safety requirements that are placed on landlords who rent out individual flats in purpose-built blocks. It also applies to converted blocks of flats so long as the conversion was carried out in accordance with the 1991 or later Building Regulations and still complies with these regulations.

Since 1 October 2015 landlords in England have been required to install smoke alarms in all of their rented residential accommodation and ensure carbon monoxide alarms are fitted in every room with a solid fuel heating appliance. This includes any open fireplace that is available for use.