If you are a landlord, it is essential to know your responsibilities when it comes to the maintenance of your property. What are you required to fix, and what is your tenant’s responsibility? Here, we detail the problems in your rental property that you are legally required to rectify.
Structure and exterior of the property
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to maintain structural and exterior elements of your rental property. This includes the foundation, walls and the roof, as well as keeping drains, guttering and downpipes in good condition.
Windows and doors are also your responsibly to maintain, draught-proof and fix if they are not working properly.
Plumbing in the property
You are responsible for maintaining the plumbing infrastructure in your property and fixing any faults that occur. This includes taps, sinks, basins, toilets, showers, baths, water tanks, plumbing pipework and other sanitary fittings.
Gas and electricity infrastructure
The central heating and electricity are also your obligation, including the boiler, gas pipes, radiators, and electrical wiring. Gas appliances, flues and ventilation must be maintained by the landlord, and problems with hot water come under your remit, too.
Switches, sockets, circuit boards and light fittings should be checked before tenancies begin and fixed by you if problems occur during the tenancy.
You must install and regularly check fire alarms to ensure that they are in good working order.
Appliances in the property
The landlord must ensure that any appliances provided are in full working order, including refrigerators, cookers, kettles, toasters, washing machines, tumble dryers and TVs.
Any appliances provided by the tenant are not your responsibility to maintain.
Problems that make the property ‘unfit for human habitation’
Your landlord responsibilities also include ensuring that your property is fit to be lived in. Problems with a home that make it unfit include severe mould and damp, extreme hot and cold temperatures, unsafe water supply and pest infestation. The tenant is only responsible for problems that are caused by unreasonable behaviour or improper care for the property.
Communal areas in a rental building
As a landlord, you are usually responsible for maintaining the communal areas of a building that you own – for example, it is your duty to maintain the entrance hall, corridors and staircases in a block of flats that you own.
Sparkles offer a property maintenance service to help landlords keep on top of their responsibilities, so get in touch with our team today to discuss your requirements.