insurance

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A landlord should maintain specialist landlord buildings and contents cover to ensure their property is fully protected. Hartington Property Services can help to arrange this or, if preferred, a landlord can make their own arrangements.

Registration
​with the relevant local authority

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Private landlords in Scotland must register with their local authority. Registrations are typically valid for 3 years and it is an offence not to register. Hartington Property Services are able to guide landlords through the application process.

The Repairing Standard

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The Repairing Standard, contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, covers the legal and contractual obligations of a private landlord to ensure that a property meets minimum standards.

Landlords must carry out a pre-tenancy check of their property to identify work required to meet the Repairing Standard, detailed below, and notify tenants of any such work. Landlords also have a duty to repair and maintain their property from the start and throughout any tenancy.

• the property must be wind and water tight and in all other respects reasonably fit for people to live in
• the structure and exterior (including drains, gutters and external pipes) must be in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order.
• installations for supplying water, gas and electricity and for sanitation, space heating and heating water must be in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order.
• any fixtures, fittings and appliances that the landlord provides under the tenancy must be in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order.
• any furnishings that the landlord provides under the tenancy must be capable of being used safely for the purpose for which they are designed.
• the property must have a satisfactory way of detecting fires and for giving warning in the event of a fire or suspected fire.
• the property must have satisfactory provision for giving warning if carbon monoxide is present in a concentration that is hazardous to health.​
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Hartington Property Services ensure that their full management landlord clients benefit from regular inspections of their property to ensure they continue to meet the Repairing Standard during a tenancy. Any necessary repairs are managed to ensure that properties remain fully compliant.

Electrics

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Electrical installations will deteriorate with age and it is therefore recommended that an Electrical Inspection Condition Report (EICR) is carried out, as a minimum, every 5 years although testing can be carried out more frequently. All portable electrical equipment supplied by the landlord must also be in a safe condition – this is achieved by annual PAT (portable appliance test) checks. Hartington Property Services maintain relationships with competent electrical engineers able to perform these important inspections.

gas

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If a property has a gas supply, tenants must be provided with an annual gas safety certificate. Gas safety inspections can only be carried out by suitably registered engineers. Hartington Property Services maintain relationships with a number of competent companies able to perform these important inspections. ​

Carbon
​Monoxide

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As referred to in the Repairing Standard above, property owners must assess and fit sufficient numbers of CO detectors. Hartington Property Services are able to supply and fit carbon monoxide detectors beside gas boilers and all open flue gas appliances such as fires, etc.

Fire

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Rented properties must be fitted with sufficient hard wired and interlinked smoke detectors. As a minimum, there should be detectors in the main living area, kitchen (device should also incorporate a heat alarm) and hallway.

Hartington Property Services also recommend that a fire blanket is fitted in the kitchen of a rented property. Fire extinguishers are an optional extra.

Furniture or soft furnishings supplied by a property owner for use by a tenant must comply with the most recent Fire Safety Regulations.

Legionella
​certification

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Property owners have a duty to assess the risk from exposure to Legionella to ensure the safety of their tenants. An assessment is necessary to show that there are no concerns requiring further action and to ensure any minor risks are being properly managed. Hartington Property Services also ensure tenants are provided with important guidance as they move in.

Energy
Performance
​Certification

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Property Owners must hold an energy performance certificate (EPC) for their property, a document that states its energy efficiency. This allows any prospective tenants to compare performance with other dwellings that they may be considering to live in. Hartington Property Services can arrange EPCs if required.

Up to date
​documentation

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There are particular legal procedures that must be adhered to when putting in place a contract between a property owner and tenant or in the event of an owner requiring to serve notice on a tenant. ​
 
Hartington Property Services regularly reviews its agreements and all other legal documentation to ensure that it remains compliant and up to date.