Legal & Safety...

B-Spoke will prepare the tenancy agreement on your behalf. It is important we have clear instructions regarding the availability of the relevant property/properties prior to letting.

It is the landlords responsibility to notify your insurance company in writing of your intention to let.

Should you have a mortgage you must obtain consent from your mortgage provider.

These regulations first came into effect on 31st October 1994 to ensure that gas appliances are properly installed and maintained in a safe condition so to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that ALL gas appliances and gas installation pipe work owned by them are checked for safety at least once a year by British Gas or a member of the Council of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI). In addition accurate records of the safety inspections and any work carried out must be kept. The current safety certificate must always be available for any tenant prior to them taking occupation of the property.

The above regulations were amended 1993 and set a new level of fire resistance for domestic upholstered furniture and furnishings. It is an offence to 'supply' in the course of business any furniture which does not comply with the regulations. This includes supplying furniture as part of a residential property to be let.

These regulations apply to sofas, beds, bed heads, and children's furniture, Garden Furniture suitable in a dwelling, scatter cushions and pillows, stretch or loose covers for the furniture or other similar items. The regulations do not apply to: curtains, carpets, bedclothes (including duvets and mattress covers).

The above regulations are an obligation on a landlord to ensure that all electrical appliances left as part of a let property are safe. Cabling fuses and plugs should be inspected and replaced where necessary to the correct rating for that particular appliance.

The 1991 Building Regulations require that all properties built since June 1992 must be fitted with mains operated interlinked smoke detectors/alarms on each floor. Such regulations regarding older properties do not exist but we strongly recommend that smoke detectors are fitted in all let properties and are regularly checked to ensure they are in fully working order.