{"id":7705,"date":"2023-03-14T10:48:36","date_gmt":"2023-03-14T10:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/?p=7705"},"modified":"2023-08-15T10:30:52","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T10:30:52","slug":"landlord-safety-certificates-your-guide-for-letting-property-in-scotland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/landlord-safety-certificates-your-guide-for-letting-property-in-scotland\/","title":{"rendered":"Landlord Safety Certificates \u2013 Your Guide for Letting Property in Scotland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Landlord safety certificates are essential if you want to rent out a property. Not only do you need to comply with Scottish and UK law, but you need to ensure the health and safety of your tenants.<\/p>\n

At first glance, the certification involved might seem daunting \u2013 after all, how many of us know a BS 5839 report from a CP12? Well, no need to worry \u2013 we\u2019ve got you covered! This handy guide explains everything you need to know to ensure that your properties are safe and fully compliant.<\/p>\n

Which landlord safety certificates do you need to let property in Scotland?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You\u2019ll need six safety certificates to let your property in the private rental sector, unless your property is classed as an HMO, in which case you\u2019ll need an additional two certificates. For anyone new to the rental market, an HMO is a House in Multiple Occupation, meaning that it\u2019s rented out by at least three (unrelated) people who share the bathroom or toilet and kitchen.<\/p>\n

Before we get into the details of each certificate, here\u2019s an at-a-glance summary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSafety Certificate<\/strong><\/td>\nQuick summary<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/strong><\/td>\nSmoke & Heat Alarm
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		The need for smoke and heat alarms is now enshrined in law in Scotland and as such, landlords should adhere to the following:
\n– one smoke alarm in the living room or the room you use most,
\n– one smoke alarm in every hallway and landing,
\n– one heat alarm in the kitchen.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/strong><\/td>\nEICR – Electrical Installation Condition Report<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is an important report that needs to be carried out every five years. It involves a qualified electrician examining the electrical installation in the property and issuing a report.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/strong><\/td>\nGas Safety Certificate – CP12 Report<\/strong><\/td>\nThis certificate is issued once a qualified gas engineer has inspected all gas appliances in a property and made sure they are safe. It must be renewed every 12 months.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/strong><\/td>\nLRA – Legionella Risk Assessment Certificate<\/strong><\/td>\nA Legionella Risk Assessment is a form of due diligence that landlords must carry out to protect their tenants from potential Legionella bacteria. The assessment must be carried out by a qualified assessor.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/strong><\/td>\nEPC – Energy Performance Certificate<\/strong><\/td>\nAn EPC is a report that measures the energy efficiency of a property. It is a legal requirement for all rental properties in Scotland and must be renewed every 10 years.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/strong><\/td>\nPAT – Portable Appliance Testing<\/strong><\/td>\nPAT testing is a form of due diligence that landlords must carry out to protect their tenants from electrical hazards. The test must be carried out by a qualified engineer.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The two additional certificates for HMO properties are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
7<\/strong><\/td>\nBS 5266 Emergency Lighting Certificate *HMO Only<\/strong><\/td>\nEmergency Lighting Certificates are required for all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Scotland. The certificate must be issued by a qualified engineer.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/strong><\/td>\nPortable Fire Extinguisher Report *HMO Only<\/strong><\/td>\nPortable Fire Extinguisher Reports are required for all HMOs in Scotland. They must be issued by a qualified engineer.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h4>\n

Landlord safety certificates \u2013 the details<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Now that you have an overview of all the certification, we\u2019ll look at each requirement in turn.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Smoke and Heat Alarm
    \n<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The law in Scotland regarding fire safety standards in homes changed in February 2022. If you’re a landlord, you must now demonstrate that your property has the required smoke and heat alarms, and that these are installed to a satisfactory standard.<\/p>\n

    All smoke and heat alarms should be mounted on the ceiling and be interlinked. If you have a carbon-fuelled appliance \u2013 like a\u00a0 boiler, fire, heater or flue \u2013 in any room, you must also have a carbon monoxide detector in that room, but this does not need to be linked to the fire alarms. If an area is open plan, one alarm can cover the whole room provided it can be located where it is no more than 7.5 metres from any point in the room. If your space includes a kitchen area it should be a heat alarm rather than a smoke alarm. Alarms can be either sealed battery or mains powered but must be interlinked.<\/p>\n

    You must ensure that both alarms comply with the following standards:<\/p>\n