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Avoiding Fines in Lettings

Landlords - How to avoid fines in lettings

Are smoke alarms a legal requirement in rental properties? Landlords are required by law to have at least one smoke alarm installed on every floor of their properties and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance (eg a coal fire, wood burning stove).

To avoid any potential fines, always double check you have a working and in-date smoke alarms. We find that lithium battery alarms with a 10 year life span are actually failing only a few years in, which are a false economy. It will cost more in the offset, but will last so much longer, to ask an electrician to install hard wired alarms instead. We have found the AICO brand to be particularly good. 

This will also alieviate the problem of tenants removing the batteries, resulting in a non compliant property. Properties without working smoke alarms are potentially liable to pay a £5,000 fine. It is also worth noting that if you have your own preferred contractor doing any compliance for you such as EICR’s or smoke alarms, please make them aware of how important it is to keep the documentation up to date.

Letting them run out can be costly for you, as the fee will always come to the Landlord. The fee for not having an in-date EICR is up to £30,000.

Contact us for up to date detail on legislation. 

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