All our properties must meet the minimum legal requirements for rented property.   These standards are set out within the following Regulations:

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

1. Landlord Registration

As of the 30th April 2006 all private landlords are required to register their rental properties with their Local Authority under the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004.  It is a criminal offence not to register.  Property ownership and Landlord contact details will be made available on a public register held at the Scottish Office.  Landlords can cite a letting agent as a point of contact if their properties are managed.  For further information go to www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk or phone your local Council offices.

2. Gas Safety Certificates

Under the Gas Safety (Installation and use) Regulations 1994 all gas appliances (e.g. boilers, fires, ovens, hobs, supply pipe work etc) in let properties must be safety checked annually by a Gas Safe (replaced Corgi April 2009) registered installer.  Proof from the installer will be required by way of a landlord’s gas safety certificate. We would be happy to recommend a CORGI registered engineer to carry out the necessary checks.

3. Wired in Smoke Detectors

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 has introduced a minimum ‘repair standard’ for let properties as well as a requirement for new properties let after September 2007 to have wired in smoke detectors.  In general however the following applies:

4. Energy Performance Certificates

In January 2009 an EEC Directive has made it a legal requirement for all property offered for rental to have an Energy Performance Certificate.  The EP Certificate will show the current efficiency of the property and areas of suggested improvement. 

5. Fire Safety Regulations (Furniture and Furnishings)

If a property is let furnished or part-furnished the items supplied must meet minimum fire resistant standards.  The regulations apply to beds, headboards, sofas, cushions, sofa-beds, nursery furniture and garden furniture suitable for use in a dwelling.  The regulations do not apply to furniture produced before 1950, bed clothes, curtains or carpets.  Those items that meet the regulations will carry a label.  If you are in any doubt about the compliance of any item, it should be removed from the property. 

DUTY OF CARE REQUIREMENTS

1. Solid Fuel and Oil Appliances

Heating and cooking appliances fuelled by coal, smokeless fuels, wood and oil can be just as likely as gas appliances to cause carbon monoxide poisoning if they are poorly installed, faulty or incorrectly used.  Therefore, we strongly recommend that any such appliances are checked by a competent engineer before a tenancy commences and at regular intervals thereafter and that any instruction books are left in the property.  Chimneys should be swept once every year.

2. Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994

The above regulations apply to new and second-hand appliances and installations supplied as part of a let property.  The appliance must be safe, particularly when connected to the electricity supply system and be sufficiently well insulated to provide protection from an electric shock.  To establish these criteria we strongly recommend that the appliance should be tested by an electrician who has the necessary test equipment to carry out portably appliance testing, and is NIC/EIC qualified.

3. Plugs and Sockets etc (Safety) Regulations 1994

Under the above regulations, all new and second-hand appliances which are supplied, including those in rented accommodation must be fitted with any appropriately fixed and fitted plug.  The plus must be of the ‘sleeved’ type i.e. the live and neutral pins must be partly encased in a plastic sleeve.  The fuse must be of the correct rating for the appliance.

Permanent electrical installations, such as mains power wiring, sockets, lighting wiring, fittings and switches must be safe and we strongly recommend that such installations are checked on a regular basis by a competent electrician.

4. Fire Extinguishers and Fire Blankets

Any additional fire safety appliance that seeks to protect the wellbeing of your tenants and your property is encouraged.  It is good advice to supply a kitchen fire extinguisher and/or fire blanket in your property.