Repairs and ongoing responsibilities
Fitness for habitation
Landlords must ensure that their property, including any common parts of the building, is fit for human habitation at the beginning of the tenancy and throughout.
To achieve that, landlords will need to make sure that their property is free of hazards which are so serious that the dwelling is not reasonably suitable for occupation in that condition. Most landlords take their responsibility seriously and do this already.
Where a landlord fails to do so, the tenant has the right to take action in the courts for breach of contract on the grounds that the property is unfit for human habitation. The remedies available to the tenant are an order by the court requiring the landlord to take action to reduce or remove the hazard, and / or damages to compensate them for having to live in a property which was not fit for human habitation.
Further information is available from GOV.UK
Carrying out inspections and repairs
Landlords should inspect their property periodically to ensure it is safe and to identify any repairs or other issues. Landlords must give at least 24 hours' notice before entering living accommodation except in an emergency.
At the start of the tenancy, make sure your tenant(s) know how to operate the boiler and other key appliances.
When tenants report issues to their landlord, the landlord must respond and act within a reasonable time period. If repairs are not done, we may take enforcement action.
When arranging works, landlords and agents should use qualified and competent tradespeople. This is especially important for gas and electrical work.
Training, accreditation, and best practice
We offer regular free training events via our landlord's forum.
We recommend that all landlords and agents adhere to the RICS Private Rented Sector Code of Practice.
Landlords can demonstrate their commitment to improving standards by joining a nationally-recognised Landlord Accreditation Scheme.