Under The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 it became law that any furnishings (except any furniture manufactured prior to 1950) left in a property must comply with British Standards.  This includes items such as beds, pillows, mattresses and sofas, which must carry a permanently fixed label detailing that the item complies with the legislation.

We will provide a copy of the Department of Trade and Industry guide for your information.

2. The Gas Safety (Installation and use) Regulations 1998

It is law that all gas appliances within a property are checked at least once every twelve months by a CORGI registered engineer and a certificate given to the Tenants to show that the inspection has been carried out.  This covers all gas appliances and pipe work.  We must have a copy of this document on our file before a Tenant can move into a property.

3. The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2004

Any electrical appliances in a property at the commencement of a Tenancy must be in good working order and comply with current electrical safety regulations.  Should any electrical equipment have a fault, which results in injury or fatality, the person responsible for supplying the equipment could be prosecuted.

House of Multiple Occupation

What is an HMO?
Under the changes in the Housing Act 2004, if you let a property which is one of the following types it is a House of Multiple Occupation:

• An entire house or flat which is let to 3 or more tenants who form 2 or more households and who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.
• A house which has been converted entirely into bedsits or other non-self contained accommodation and which is let to 3 or more tenants who form two or more households and who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet facilities.
• A converted house which contains one or more flats which are not wholly self contained (ie. The flat does not contain within it a kitchen, bathroom and toilet) and which is occupied by 3 or more tenants who form two or more households.
• A building which is converted entirely into self-contained flats if the conversion did not meet the standards of the 1991 Building Regulations and more than one-thrid of the flats are let on short-term tenancies.
• In order to be an HMO the property must be used as the tenants’ only or main residence and it should be used soley or mainly to house tenants. Properties to let to students and migrant workers will be treated as their only or main residence and the same will apply to properties which are used as domestic refuges.

For more information, please visit the ‘links’ section where you will find a direct link to the government written guidelines.

RNR Properties (Reading) Ltd cannot be held liable if any of the above legal obligations should change. All information correct at time of writing.