The Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022 have significant implications in the extent to which landlords must test and check their properties’ structure, fixtures, fittings, installations, and appliances. Here we take a look at some of the key points…
Electrical Installations
Electrical installations in rental properties – including wiring, sockets, switches, and the consumer unit – must be checked for fitness by an ‘appropriate person’ under the regulations. At Red Key, we ensure that an Electrical Installation Condition Report is produced every five years by an NICEIC qualified electrician in accordance with the latest edition of their wiring regulations. We will discuss any issues identified with you, graded from category 1 to category 3, and ensure that category 1 issues are rectified at the very least.
Electrical Appliances
Many rental properties are supplied with ‘portable appliances’ (broadly speaking, these are anything with a plug, and could typically include a fridge and a washing machine), and again, these must be fit for purpose. While the regulations and Rent Smart Wales’ guidance are vague in their specifications, the general consensus among our pool of electricians is that these should be PAT certified every two years. From a pragmatic point of view, we would take into account an appliance’s age and condition during inspections and at points of repair to ensure that a sensible replacement cycle is maintained.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detection
Interlinked smoke detectors should now be installed on each habitable floor of a property, and this would typically include smoke detectors in halls, living space and bedrooms, with a heat detector in the kitchen. Detector heads typically have a life of ten years to allow for the depletion of the radiation source, so we will inspect these and arrange replacement as required. Carbon monoxide detectors are now required in any room where a fixed combustion appliance is installed, whether it be solid fuel, gas or oil; gas cookers are exempt. These should typically be fitted at head height in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance.
Legionella
We now carry out Legionella Risk Assessments at the start of every new tenancy, ensuring that hot and cold water supplies are above and below the correct thresholds, and checking there are no dead legs in the plumbing or unsealed header tanks.
In order for a tenancy to commence and for a property to be considered fit for human habitation, all of the above points must be satisfied. Remember, death or injury of a tenant due to electrocution, fire, carbon monoxide poisoning or any other illness is a serious liability, and can lead to prosecution as well as a weight on your conscience. With our RedPremium managment service, everything is taken care of to ensure your compliance and peace of mind.
If you are in any doubt or you need our advice, please book a 15 minute chat with our Lettings Manager, Richard Leonard.