Gas safety and more with landlords insurance

When you’re a landlord, you have a number of legal obligations when it comes to the safety and security of your tenants. Failing to comply these can not only leave your tenants in danger but also put you at risk of heavy penalties.

Some of these responsibilities can be covered under your landlords insurance, others might operate outside the parameters of your cover. Knowing which is which and having a sound knowledge of your obligations is key if you’re operating in the rental market.

First and foremost, you are responsible for the safety and security of your tenants. This includes providing a hazard-free property to live in and installing and maintaining important equipment such as smoke detectors. You must provide satisfactory locks and keys to ensure the property is safe and secure.

You must also keep the premises in order to obey housing codes. This includes keeping structural components of the property in good condition – this can incorporate roofs, floors, walls and fireplaces. When it comes to repairs, you are required to keep the property in the condition it was in when the tenant moved in. This means that as a landlord, you are not liable for damage caused by the tenant – but you may be able to claim for this on your landlords insurance (check your policy for details of this). Landlords are also responsible for dealing with pests and must provide bins for waste disposal in flats or bedsits (not houses).

Perhaps most important of all is a landlord’s responsibilities when it comes to gas safety. This includes making sure all gas fittings and flues are in good working condition. You must arrange a gas safety check every year with a Gas Safe Registered technician and keep a record of every safety check for at least two years. Once a check has been carried out, a copy of the latest certificate should be issued to existing tenants within 28 days of the work being carried out.

With so many responsibilities to think about, it makes sense to get a landlord insurance policy that covers you for as much as possible. For example, many policies cover the cost of a gas safety check, along with any repairs to gas appliances such as boilers. Some policies even allow the tenants to claim for any problems without contacting the landlord, saving you time, effort and hassle and allowing you to get on with building your property empire.