Privately Rented Housing
There is a considerable amount of legislation which requires landlords to provide a property which is fit to live in, and which is provided in and kept in good repair.
The following checklist is a guide to whether the property you are considering renting meets these basic requirements.
Fit for Habitation
The property has to be fit for you to live in. Generally, it must:
- be structurally stable
- be free from serious disrepair
- be free from very bad damp problems
- have reasonable provision for lighting, heating and ventilation
- have a supply of water which is fit to drink
- have adequate facilities for storing, preparing and cooking food, including a kitchen sink with hot and cold water
- have a toilet and bathroom inside the property, with hot and cold water
- have an effective and working drainage system.
If you feel that the property fails to meet any of the above criteria, then you should contact our Clean and Green hotline for advice (details below).
Disrepair
The property should be provided in, and maintained in, a good state of repair, and the landlord must carry out regular safety checks:
- Gas Safety
By law, the landlord is required to have all gas appliances and flues checked annually to ensure that they are working safely. They must provide you with a copy of the most recent gas safety certificate within 14 days of you moving into the property. The Health and Safety Executive enforces this law, but our officers are happy to give you help and advice.
- Furniture & Furnishings Fire Safety
Your landlord must ensure that any furniture or furnishings which are provided for you to use meet fire safety standards. Contact the Trading Standards team via 'Call Derbyshire' (details below) or see the Trading Standards pages on the Derbyshire County Council website.
- Electrical Safety
Landlords must also ensure the safety of electrical equipment supplied in the property, and any plugs, sockets, adapters and fuses also provided. This is again regulated by the Derbyshire County Council Trading Standards team.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
These are properties which are generally let as bed-sits, where you may have your own room to live in and share the use of a bathroom, toilet, kitchen and possibly a living or dining room with the other occupants in the property. A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO for short) is defined as being occupied by two or more persons who do not form a single household.
For HMOs, there are additional requirements on a landlord to provide adequate amenities and fire precautions at the property, and ensure the property is managed properly. All houses in multiple occupation should be registered with us.
If you want more detailed information on fire precautions in HMOs, wish to register a house in multiple occupation or have any particular concerns about this type of property, then contact our Clean and Green hotline.
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