Preparing your property to let
Where should landlords begin when preparing their property to let?
Landlords already have a legal obligation to keep their rental property safe and free from health hazards, in line with the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. As such, responsible landlords and agents carry out risk assessments and to make sure they mitigate the hazards outlined in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
The Act strengthens and clarifies these obligations by introducing a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector. This will require landlords to check that their rented properties meet specific minimum health and safety standards. Every home will need to be in a reasonable state of repair, contain modern facilities, and provide a warm, dry, and secure living environment.
The aim of the Decent Homes Standard is to improve housing quality and reduce the number of properties falling below acceptable standards. If a property fails to meet the requirements of the Decent Homes Standard, the local council will have the power to issue an improvement notice. This will formally require the landlord to carry out necessary works within a specified timeframe, failure to comply with such a notice could result in a civil penalty or criminal prosecution.
Find out more in our blog, ‘What’s the Decent Homes Standard?’.
