Compliance Requirements
For landlords using our Fully Managed and Guaranteed Rent services we automatically instruct our own contractors for completion of any compliance requirements at your property in order to ensure that we maintain full control in order to meet with the requirements of our terms of business. Where a Landlord wishes to instruct their own contractors to carry out compliance works such as a gas safety or electrical safety inspection (EICR), they will be required to sign a disclaimer absolving Northwood of any and all liability should there be any future issue, for example in gaining possession of their property or resulting in a penalty due to failure to provide correct certification or within required timescales. The landlord must provide proof of certification to Northwood at least 14 days prior to expiry.
In the case of Guaranteed Rent service levels, failure to provide proof of certification within these timescales will result in Northwood carrying out their own certification to comply with legal requirements, all charges incurred will be passed on to the landlord.
The following certifications are required in rental properties:
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Where gas is installed in the property, annual Gas Safety Inspection and Certification is required on each gas appliance / flue. This can be undertaken up to two months prior to expiry of the current certificate without affecting the original expiry date. We will also instruct our Engineer to service your boiler annually unless otherwise instructed.
- All rental properties require a fixed wiring electrical safety inspection, this is called an Electrical Inspection Condition Report (EICR) to be carried out to ensure the safety of the electrical installation within the property. Certification will generally be required every five years, however some installations may require a lesser frequency dependent upon the condition of the installation. This is at the discretion of the qualified Electrical Inspector.
- A Legionella Risk Assessment must be carried out on all properties on an annual basis. This can be carried out by Northwood or your own contractor.
- An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a statutory requirement for all rental properties. The minimum standard for an EPC certificate is a rating of E or above (unless exempt). This is required before a tenancy can commence and a certificate is valid for 10 years.
- PAT Testing (Portable Appliance Testing) is required in all properties that have either freestanding electrical white goods (i.e. Fridge / washing machine) or in part or fully furnished properties where numerous electrical appliances are provided (i.e. TV, microwave, kettle, bedside lamps etc).
- Smoke Alarms must be installed on each floor of a rental property as a minimum requirement. We recommend installation of Bluetooth interlinked alarms to ensure the safety of your tenants and protect your property. Good quality alarms typically have a lifespan of 10 years.
- Carbon Monoxide Alarms must be installed in all rooms containing a solid fuel burning appliance (i.e. Boiler, Log burner, Gas Fire etc). Good quality alarms typically have a lifespan of 7 years.
- Chimneys that are in use in a rental property must be swept on an annual basis. It is the Landlord’s responsibility to ensure that this is carried out and a Chimney Sweep Certificate provided.
- A Hot Water Cylinder Service is required where an ‘unvented’ cylinder is installed in the property. This is to meet with manufacturers recommendations, the system must be serviced and safety devices (pressure relief valves) checked for correct and safe operation.
Note: Fees for compliance requirements are subject to change