If you’re letting property to tenants, then you are legally obliged to abide by certain rules and principles. If you understand these, then you stand a much better chance of avoiding risk and making your operation profitable.
Understanding Legal Responsibilities
Let’s take stock of a few of the more important sections of law regarding landlords.
To begin with, the property you’re letting must be safe. That means that they must be compliant with building regulations and regularly maintained. Electricians and gas engineers might be periodically recruited to take care of essential appliances and fittings.
In some cases, the tenant may assume responsibility for taking care of some aspects of the property. This allows the property to be cared for without the landlord intruding on it regularly. The more clearly that responsibilities are laid out in the lease agreement, the less likely it is that disputes will arise.
Where you fail to adequately protect tenants or members of the general public, you might be held liable in court. For this reason, it’s often a good idea to consult with a reputable personal injury solicitor. The right landlord’s insurance will also offer you an additional layer of protection.
Managing Fire Safety Compliance
Among the more important aspects of property management is fire safety. All communal areas in a property should be compliant with fire safety regulations. That means installing smoke alarms in key locations and ensuring that fire exits are accessible.
A fire can inflict serious damage on any given property. But it might also damage the reputation of the landlord and create legal risk. Since it’s in the interest of every party that fire risk be minimised, tenants and landlords should collaborate in conducting risk assessments and raising issues that might contribute to the risk of a fire starting, spreading, or inflicting damage on people or property.
Addressing Asbestos and Hazardous Materials
There’s a special kind of hazardous material that might be found in properties constructed prior to the 2000s. This is asbestos. While it’s most prevalent in older buildings, it’s can be present in newer ones, too.
Where this material is present in structural elements, it might be left undisturbed. But it’s still worth inspecting the property, and assessing risk, on an ongoing basis. These inspections should look not just for asbestos, but also for other hazardous materials.
In some cases, removing the asbestos is the best option. Asbestos removal can be costly, but the health risks associated with asbestos exposure can justify the expense. If you intend to drill through a wall or ceiling, you suspect contains asbestos, or you’re thinking about carrying out extensive demolition work or refurbishment, a risk assessment is warranted.
