Imposes fire resistance levels for domestic upholstered furniture, furnishing and other upholstered products present in a residential letting.
The regulations include any of the following upholstered items: Furniture intended for private use in a rental property, including children's furniture, beds and headboards, futons, sofa beds and other convertibles, nursery furniture, garden furniture which may also be suitable for use in a home, scatter cushions and seat pads, pillows, loose and stretch covers for furniture.
The regulations do not apply to furniture manufactured before 1950, and re-upholstery of furniture made before that date, bed clothes (including duvets), loose covers for mattresses, pillow cases, curtains, carpets.
All new furniture (except mattresses and bed bases) must carry a permanent label in accordance with the regulations.
Although the above may sound particularly onerous, generally speaking, most furniture manufactured since 1988 will comply with the regulations, nevertheless it is always the landlord\s responsibility to check the residential lettings for such items. |
BY LAW all gas appliances in rental property must be checked annually by an engineer recognised by the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI). The scope of the act covers all chimneys and flues as well as central heating boilers, water heaters and boilers present in residential lettings.
The landlord or landlords letting agent is obliged to supply to the tenant a record of the gas appliances in the property together with details of the annual inspection, including any works done to the gas appliances in order to comply with the legislation. |
Landlords need to be aware that the Inland Revenue have to be informed within 6 months of letting a property, flat or apartment in the U.K. Failure to do this could result in penalties, interest and other consequences. You must declare "Rental Income" from rental flats, apartments or properties to the Inland Revenue.
This includes all individuals and Companies regardless, of their residency. Therefore non U.K. residents cannot escape these obligations! |
This is a very complex area of taxation and professional advice should be obtained. Basic Tax Planning can avoid large Tax Bills on rental apartments and other rental property.
This tax is chargeable on rental properties that have been rented for any time and subsequently sold. However there are exceptions to the general rule. Planning can minimise or even eliminate a Tax liability.
We would welcome an opportunity to give you any clarification you may need on these matters. |
