Maintaining your property
Private landlords and letting agents have a duty to keep their properties to a good standard.
If you are a landlord or agent, you should:
- arrange property inspections at regular intervals
- keep your property safe and hazard free from things that could cause your tenants serious harm
For guidance and advice about the standards required by law to let domestic property, go to GOV.UK: guidance on the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
Electrical safety
All privately rented properties must have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) in place before the start of a tenancy.
Electrical safety tests must be undertaken by a qualified person:
- for existing tenancies, by 1 April 2021
- for new tenancies, before each new tenancy begins
- during tenancy, at least once every 5 years
When you obtain an EICR, a copy of the report must be given to the tenant within 28 days. Upon request, you must be provide a copy to us within 7 days.
You must address any category 1 or category 2 items highlighted on the report within 28 days.
If you do not address these items, we will serve a remedial notice. If you fail to comply with a remedial notice, you may be issued a civil penalty notice.
For more information, go to GOV.UK: electrical safety standards in the private rented sector.
Energy performance
Private landlords must make sure their rented properties have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rated E or above, unless they have a valid exemption.
From 2025, the minimum legal EPC rating for rental properties is due to increase to D.
If your property does not achieve the minimum legal EPC rating, you will be unable to rent out the property and could incur a civil penalty for a breach.
We can provide funding to help you improve the energy efficiency of your property and increase its EPC rating.
Enforcement
If we have reasonable grounds to believe you're in breach of legal requirements, we will serve a notice requiring you to take action.
If you fail to comply with the notice, we can:
- arrange the necessary action and recover the costs from you
- impose a financial penalty