Crackdown launched on cowboy landlords

Published by Kim Hamilton for Beattie Group in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government

 
Landlords who cut corners on safety to save money could suffer a huge personal cost despite a surge in properties landing on the UK rental market.

Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil insisted there is no hiding place for cowboy property managers who ‘make money from poor standards and poor service.’

And now the UK’s leading residential utility service organisation GESIC (www.gesic.co.uk) is backing Mr Neil by urging letting agents and landlords renting out properties not to ignore getting the basic safety certification – which could result in void insurance or even a jail sentence.

Anyone who lets residential accommodation is required under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 to ensure all mains electrical equipment supplied within the property is safe and regularly maintained.

Leanne Dolan, operations director at GESIC, said: “Tenants deserve to know they are safe in a rented property and landlords should be taking responsibility to ensure that both the tenants and their own interests are protected.

“The only way to show that the safety of the electrical equipment in their property has been checked is to have evidence of portable appliance (PAT) testing and sufficient gas checks by a Corgi (now GasSafe) registered engineer. Insurance companies are more often refusing to pay claims out and finding landlords negligent if they don’t have evidence of testing.

“We monitor the service of our network of engineers closely – introducing an industry accreditation for property managers would similarly promote better practice among providers."

GESIC was established in 2008 in response to the surge in the rental market and has since rapidly expanded its services across the UK.

Having developed an innovative cost-effective solution, GESIC provides both letting agents and private landlords with all the necessary checks and certification legally required when renting a residential property in the UK including PAT testing, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and boiler maintenance through its growing nationwide network of accredited GESIC engineers.

www.gesic.co.uk