Safety responsibilities
Your landlord must keep the property you live in safe and free from health hazards.
Gas safety
Your landlord must:
- make sure the gas equipment they supply is safely installed and maintained by a Gas Safe-registered engineer
- have a registered engineer do an annual gas safety check on each appliance and flue
- give you a copy of the gas safety check record before you move in, or within 28 days of the check
Electrical safety
Your landlord must make sure:
- the electrical system, e.g. sockets and light fittings, is safe
- all appliances they supply, e.g. cookers and kettles, are safe
Fire safety
Your landlord must:
- follow safety regulations
- follow the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022: Guidance for landlords and tenants that came into force on 1 October 2022. Since that date, all relevant landlords must:
- ensure at least one smoke alarm is equipped on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation. This has been a legal requirement in the private rented sector since 2015
- ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers)
- ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once informed and found that they are faulty
- check you have access to escape routes at all times
- make sure the furniture and furnishings they supply are fire-safe
- provide fire alarms and extinguishers if the property is a large house in multiple occupation (HMO)
Repairs responsibilities
Your landlord is always responsible for repairs to:
- the property structure and exterior
- basins, sinks, baths, and other sanitary fittings including pipes and drains
- heating and hot water
- gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation
- electrical wiring
- any damage they cause by attempting repairs.
Your landlord is usually responsible for repairing common areas, such as staircases in blocks of flats.
If your property needs repairs, contact your landlord straight away. Your landlord should tell you when you can expect the repairs to be done. You should carry on paying rent while you wait for those repairs.
Ideally, you should put your request in writing by letter or email.
If your landlord does not make repairs after you have notified them, you can report the problem to the private sector housing team. We can take action if we think the problem could cause harm or nuisance to others.