Landlord’s Legal Obligations

Meeting Safety Standards and Obligations

  • A Rent Smart Wales landlord registration is a legal requirement for landlords letting out property in Wales on a domestic tenancy. A part of the process landlords are required to provide their name, contact, and rental property details. Tenancy falling within the scope of the legislation include standard occupation contracts under renting home (Wales) act 2016. Unless Exceptions apply. 
  • You must provide your Rent Smart Wales registration number to your agent – visit www.rentsmart.gov.wales for more info. If you do not register within 12 weeks of the agreement to manage a rental property, then we will have to notify Rent Smart Wales to comply with our licence conditions.
  • A valid Electricity Installation Condition Report (EICR) must be completed by a qualified and trusted electric engineer for a rented property, this is valid for 5 years. Landlords (or their agent) must provide a copy of this certificate to their tenants.
  • A Hardwired Interlinked Smoke Detector must be fitted and fully working on each property level.
  • Carbon monoxide detectors must be placed in any room which contains a gas appliance, an oil-fired combustion appliance or a solid fuel burning combustion appliance (for instance a gas cooker, gas or oil boiler or wood burning stove).
  • A gas safety record is required, carried out by a qualified Gas Safe Engineer, to ensure all gas appliances, pipes and flues are in safe working order.
  • To reduce risk of fire, all furniture must meet safety standards and display the appropriate labels.
  • The water supply must be working properly to protect tenants from Legionella or any other issues which may arise.
  • Asbestos – It is the Landlords responsibility to identify where, if anywhere, in your rental property, asbestos – containing materials (ACMs) may be present and to take the appropriate action. You must inform us if you believe asbestos might be present in your property.

Energy Performance Certificate

Every tenanted property requires an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) (unless there is a registered exemption.) EPCs must be rated E or above in line with MEES regulations.