It is common knowledge that the United Kingdom has instituted laws that spell out clear landlord responsibilities.  They are the same laws which must govern the rights of tenants in relation to their landlords.  A lot of the laws concerned with landlord responsibilities are listed in rental agreements which the tenants and landlords are required to sign at the start of the tenancy.

One area of landlord responsibilities that must be taken seriously are those outlined in the laws that cover the rights of persons with disabilities.  There are similar laws that govern racial relations and sex discrimination which are identified by Acts of the law to protect people within a business environment.

All property owners who want to acquire tenants for their properties must acquaint themselves with both general business laws like these and ones that apply specifically to landlords and their responsibilities to their tenants.  Failure to abide by the laws is unadvisable as it inevitably leads to problems down the line.

Landlord Responsibilities Before Letting

Probably the most important responsibility a landlord has is to make sure the property is in a condition fit for human habitation. This means that it must,

• Be free from pests like mice or rats,
• Have access to basic amenities such as hot water and gas
• Be secure.

Before letting to anybody, it is common sense for a landlord to check the property and make sure it is clean and tidy. He should check for any potential hidden problems such as a rodents or insect infestation, check the property is free of damp and that it has no mould on the walls.

The landlord is also responsible for insuring all heating, hot water and boilers are fully working and certified safe by the relevantprofessionals. If the contract states the property is furnished, then the landlord is expected to replace any furniture when required, as long as its reasonable wear and tear, not damage by the tenant.

All fire codes must be strictly adhered to, including;

• A fire blanket in the kitchen
• A fire extinguisher
• Fire doors that shut themselves
• Fully working smoke alarms

On-going Responsibilities

Water and Sanitation regulations for living quarters must also be observed.  The law also requires the property owners to be the ones to do any structural repairs required.

Some of the landlord’s responsibilities that also continue throughout the tenant’s residency include;

• It is the landlord’s responsibility to check if the gas and fuel regulations have been met.   Regular annual checks must be done by a professional engineer and the gas pipes must be maintained for safety.  All these laws are in the Gas Safety Regulations.
• The electrical facilities must be in perfect safety condition as stipulated in the Electrical Equipment Regulations.
• Fire Regulations for residential buildings must also be followed.  The landlord is responsible to see to it that any fire equipment that is used or out-dated is replaced immediately.

While it may seem that there are a lot of landlord responsibilities to consider, most are matters of commonsense and are no difficulty to any responsible landlord.