Landlords' Guide to Electrical Safety in Scotland - Association of ...

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B. Houses in multiple occupation (HMO) As well as registering as a landlord, if you are planning to rent your property to three or more unrelated people, you will also need a Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence before you rent out the property. Such properties include, but are not limited to: those rented to students, young professionals, migrant workers and tied accommodation. It has been a mandatory requirement to obtain a licence for an HMO since October 2000. To obtain a HMO licence, you will need to apply to the local authority that covers the area where the HMO property is located. The local authority sets the standards required and also sets the fees for a licence application. Flats or bedsits that are otherwise separate are considered part of one house if they share cooking, washing and/or toilet facilities. The owner of the house is responsible for obtaining an HMO licence from the local authority. However, before a licence can be awarded, the local authority will make sure that acceptable standards are met in the following three categories: you are a fit and proper person there are tenancy management systems in place which are reviewed the physical conditions of the property are suitable and fit for purpose The Scottish Government provides guidance for Licensing Authorities on the operation of the licensing scheme. HMOs are now covered by new fire safety legislation. For further information, visit www.infoscotland.com/firelaw. How does it affect you. A landlord’s duties include the duty to take safety measures within his rented property and to repair and maintain as per the ‘tolerable’ and ‘repairing’ standard of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. In the case of an HMO, this includes the duty to repair and maintain common areas (such as corridors and hallways) of the tenanted building. Failure to meet these standards may result in the local authority taking an enforcement action against you, and you may be removed from the landlords’ register and/or prosecuted. Further information can be obtained from: www.prhpscotland.gov.uk/prhp/1.html 8 The Electrical Safety Council Landlords’ Guide to Electrical Safety in Scotland
Private Rented Housing Panel With the introduction of the Private Rented Housing Panel (PRHP), a dispute between a tenant and his or her landlord should now be resolved a lot quicker and more efficiently than before. Where rent is being paid and a landlord refuses to keep the property in a proper state of repair, the PRHP will look to resolve differences. Once a complaint has been received by the PRHP, and the President decides the complaint is valid, the complaint is passed to the Private Rented Housing committee, who will then process the complaint. For more information about the PRHP, visit www.prhpscotland.gov.uk The Scottish Housing Quality Standard The Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) is a new set of criteria that local authorities and registered social landlords must ensure they meet by 2015. It differs from the statutory 'tolerable’ standard and the Building Standards as it is aimed at all housing and is based on a number of broad quality criteria. To meet the SHQS, the property must be: compliant with the 'tolerable' standard free from serious disrepair energy efficient provided with modern facilities and services healthy, safe and secure. Further information can be obtained from: www.decenthomesstandard.co.uk/scottish C. Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 The purpose of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, as defined by the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, is: to secure the health, safety, welfare and convenience of people; to further the conservation of fuel and power; and to further the achievement of sustainable development, with respect to the design, construction, demolition and conversion of buildings and the provision of services, fittings and equipment in or in connection with buildings. Within the regulations are ‘standards’ that buildings have to meet. They come in the form of ‘expanded functional standards’. That is, the standards describe the functions a building should perform. The most relevant one for electrical safety is mandatory standard 4.5 which states that: The Electrical Safety Council Landlords’ Guide to Electrical Safety in Scotland 9
Page 1 and 2: Landlords’ Guide to Electrical Sa
Page 3 and 4: Landlords’ Guide to Electrical Sa
Page 5 and 6: 2. Legislation If you own a propert
Page 7: a suitable safe space is available
Page 11 and 12: Landlords who let private dwellings
Page 13 and 14: the operation of the fire alarm sys
Page 15 and 16: 3. Fixed Electrical Installations A
Page 17 and 18: Frequency of Periodic Inspections T
Page 19 and 20: 5. Portable Appliances The majority
Page 21 and 22: 6. Fire Alarms & Emergency Lighting
Page 23 and 24: Grade B, C, D, E & F systems Routi
Page 25 and 26: Compliance with Building Regulation
Page 27 and 28: Note 1 - Building work type as refe
Page 29 and 30: Where doubt exists as to whether el
Page 31 and 32: Options where electrical installati
Page 33 and 34: 8. Finding an Electrician Electrica
Page 35 and 36: APPENDIX A: Further Guidance Relati
Page 37 and 38: Smoke detector in each lounge; Smo
Page 39 and 40: Design considerations/grades of sys
Page 41 and 42: APPENDIX B: Further Guidance Relati
Page 43 and 44: This includes HMOs subject to licen
Page 45 and 46: Emergency Lighting Emergency lighti
Page 47 and 48: The main purpose of a PIR is to rep
Page 49 and 50: Remedial work If the report recomme
Page 51 and 52: Electrical equipment categories ISI
Page 53 and 54: Notes (1) User checks are required
Page 55 and 56: Abbreviations BS British Standard S

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