New Housing Standards Regulations for Rental Properties came into effect on 1st July 2017. The HOUSING (STANDARDS FOR RENTED HOUSES) REGULATIONS 2017 add to the previously existing standards and will backed up by increased levels of inspections and enforcement as per the governments rental strategy.
The regulations cover the following areas:
Structural Condition
Sanitary Facilities
Heating
Food Preparation and Storage and Laundry
Ventilation
Lighting
Fire Safety
Refuse Facilities
Gas, Oil and Electricity Installations
What new?
- Every rental property must now be fitted with carbon monoxide alarms
- Where a window has an opening section through which a person may fall, and the bottom of the opening section is more than 1400mm above external ground level, suitable safety restrictors shall be fitted. Safety restrictors shall restrain the window sufficiently to prevent such falls.
Summary
Every rental property must now have:
- A Fire Blanket
- Carbon Monoxide Alarm
- Two 10 year lithium battery smoke alarms or mains wired smoke alarms
- Suitable Window Restrictors where required
This is not an exhaustive list – requirements vary between stand alone and multi-unit properties.
Click here to read the regulations in full
Click here to purchase Carbon Monoxide Alarms
more to follow….
