Landlord duties

Repairs

Landlords are responsible for repairs to the outside or structure of properties.

Responsibilities include: roof, chimneys, walls, gutters and drains.

Landlords are also responsible for keeping the equipment for supplying water, gas and electricity in safe working order.

Safety and hazards

Hazards can include: inadequate heating, damp and mould growth, dangerous stairs, exposed electric wiring

All gas appliances and pipe work in the property must be checked every year by a Gas Safe Registered contractor. The gas engineer must issue a certificate to confirm that this is safe. If the gas engineer finds anything that is unsafe, the landlord must fix it.

All furniture in the property must meet current fire safety regulations

All electrical equipment must be safe.

It is highly recommended that landlords carry out a fire safety risk assessment. Landlords must then reduce fire hazards by installing suitable fire detection equipment.

Houses in Multiple Occupation are governed by additional laws regarding fire precautions.

Oldham Council has powers to reduce or remove hazards on privately rented properties.

Visits

Landlords must give tenants at least 24 hours written notice before a visit.

Landlords cannot enter the property without permission; and must arrange times with tenants for inspections.

Evictions/Asking tenants to leave

If the correct procedure is not followed it is an illegal eviction and landlords risk a fine or prison sentence.

The Tenancy Relations Service can help with negotiations between tenants and landlords to try to resolve any problems before resorting to eviction.

The Tenancy Relations Service can advise landlords on how to take back possession of a property.

Rent increases

Rent may be increased but only at certain times and in certain circumstances (and it depends on the type of tenancy agreement).

The Tenancy Relations Service can advise landlords on how to raise rent.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

All deposits received by a landlord or agent for an assured short hold tenancy (AST) must be protected in a government approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

The scheme is a legal requirement to protect tenancy deposits and provide a fairer system for settling disputes about the return of a deposit when the tenant moves out.

Personal information about landlords

By law, landlords must give tenants their name and a contact address within the UK.

If the property is managed by a letting or property agent, they also have to provide tenants with the landlord's full name and address.

For more information contact the Tenancy Relations Service.

Advice services

Neighbourhood Enforcement
First floor
Chadderton Town Hall
Middleton Road
Chadderton, OL9 6PP
Tel 0161 770 2244