There are many Regulations and Acts, which relate to Let Property and the law is not always clear about its application. However, generally, a Landlord and his (Letting) Agent are jointly responsible for providing a SAFE environment to their tenants. There are exceptions, and each case needs individual application.

Trading Standards are generally responsible for investigating breaches of law relating to let property, and both Norfolk Trading Standards and Suffolk Trading Standards produce their own Fact Sheets on the subject. EPH Services suggest that anyone wanting to check their specific responsibilities or position should contact their respective office.

 

Norfolk Trading Standards	Tel: 0844 800 8013
Suffolk Trading Standards	Tel: (Ipswich) 01473 584368

Most aspects of the law have been outlined on other pages within the site and whilst sometimes general in nature, serve to underline that let property must be SAFE. Take for example; the landlord who does not carry out Electrical Appliance Testing or an NICEIC Periodic Inspection, and the result is an accident to the tenant, his possessions, and the property itself (say, an electric fire caught fire).

The insurance company would seek certification that the landlord 'complied with current legislation' i.e. proof of electrical inspection (as detailed in the Policy small print). Non-compliance could mean that the insurance company withdraws cover and the landlord is left without protection from the costs of:

The clear message is to safeguard interests for around £1.00 a week. Remember, if a landlord (and his agent) does not test, then they cannot have a defence!

Finally, it is worth detailing the case of Drummond Reeves V Dorset County Council 1996.

The Landlord prepared a property for letting but the tenant refused to move into the property for fear of electrical items being safe to use. The tenant complained to the local Trading Standards Officer who prosecuted the landlord for supplying UNSAFE electrical goods to the property that did not comply with the Electrical Safety and Insulation Regulations. The court decided that even though the tenant did not move into the property, the intention to leave the UNSAFE items at the property by the landlord, and the fact that the goods were at the property at the start of the tenancy was still a breach of the regulations.