Owning a rental means keeping up with legislative building, health and safety requirements – including electrical checks, and a host of other maintenance.
The list is long, and the rules are changing, so we thought we’d make a simple checklist to outline your key responsibilities.
In May 2019, government introduced new “Healthy Homes Standards” laws. These set minimum standards that landlords have to meet – for example, living rooms will be required to have a heater that raises the room temperature to 18 degrees.
This will come into force over several years after 1 July 2021. With a final deadline for all rental properties from July 2024.
Mill Electrical can offer solutions you may not have considered, and will even set up a regular maintenance schedule for your rental, so you have one less thing to worry about.
Make sure to give us a call to find out how we can help: 0800 877 7996.
HEATING
By law, landlords must provide an “approved form of heating” in the living room. This cannot be just a power point (an electrical outlet) or a gas outlet – there has to be some kind of heating appliance. Whilst it does not HAVE to be a heat pump, they are arguably the most safe and efficient form of heating. We are agents for Haier heat pumps – which make a quiet, affordable and reliable option for rentals. Landlords do not have to provide heating in the bedrooms and other rooms.
SERVICING
Landlords are responsible for servicing any ducted heating and ventilation systems already installed. Mill Electrical can set up a maintenance schedule and remind you when these are due.
LIGHT BULBS
Landlords and tenants can BOTH be responsible for light bulbs. The Residential Tenancies Act does not cover who is responsible for supplying or replacing light bulbs. It’s a good idea to talk about this at the start of the tenancy and note what you decide in your tenancy agreement. It may be that the landlord supplies working light bulbs at the start of the tenancy, and the tenant replaces any that stop working. As non-standard light bulbs can be more expensive or harder to fit, the landlord may agree to pay for these. Mill Electrical are always on hand to help replace any that are tricky or hard to reach.
DIGITAL TV
Landlords are responsible for the repair and maintenance of digital TV facilities – if they installed the equipment. If a property’s not set up to receive digital TV, they don’t have to install or upgrade equipment to receive it.
If a landlord wants to install digital TV during the tenancy they’ll need the tenant’s permission to access the property. This also applies if they want someone (like Mill Electrical) to do the installation for them.
Tenants may be able to install digital TV BUT they need the landlord’s written permission first. The landlord can’t withhold their permission without a good reason. Before agreeing to install digital TV, the landlord and tenant should agree who will own the equipment. Often satellite dishes are the property of the company that provides the service (ie: Sky). They should also decide who’ll be responsible for repair and maintenance – then give Mill Electrical a call to book it in: 0800 877 7996.
FIBRE BROADBAND
From February 2021 under the Residential Tenancies Act 2020, tenants can request to install fibre broadband and landlords must agree (if it is possible and can be installed at no cost to them), unless specific exemptions apply.
Tenants can ask (in writing) for fibre broadband to be installed at the rental property and landlords must allow it, unless:
- Installation would compromise the structural integrity, weather- tightness or character of the property.
- Installation would breach any regulations.
- The landlord intends to begin or take steps towards extensive renovations or repairs within 90 days of the tenant’s request, and installation would affect that work.
- The landlord applies to the Tenancy Tribunal and it decides that the landlord does not have to install fibre.
Landlords must respond to a fibre request from tenants within 21 days of receiving it.
Call Mill Electrical to help with the internal wiring of your Fibre system. We can also recommend the best Wi-Fi modem for your unique situation.