Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s)
If the house you are looking at has 3 stories and above and has 5 or more tenants, the landlord may be legally required to have a mandatory licence that ensures appropriate health and safety standards are met on the property.
It is a criminal offence for a landlord not to licesne a property and they could face a fine of up to £20,000. You can check if a landlord has set-up a HMO through Birmingham City Council.
If you suspect a property requires a licence but the landlord does not produce one, don’t sign up to it and contact the council's Private Rents Team. Log an enquiry to speak with one of our advisers if you're unsure!
Gas Safety
Landlords are required by law to have gas appliances and ventillation inspected every twelve months by a Gas Safe registered installer.
They are also obliged to give tenants a copy of the gas certificate both when they move in and when the certificate is renewed. If it is not inspected every year, contact our Advice Team or call the Health and Safety Executive’s Gas Safety Action Line on 0800 300 363.
Electrical Safety
Electrics are not regulated in the same way as gas but landlords have a duty to maintain electrical sockets and wiring. Signs that everything is not well include sparks coming from switches, frayed insulation and plugs that heat up. Never overload circuits using adapters or extension leads.
Fire Safety
In the event of a fire, proper means of escape must be provided. This does not necessarily mean external fire escapes but unblocked exits, fire doors and fire protected stairways.
If your house looks as if it should have better fire safety, you may want to bring it to the attention of the local council who can check it out 0121 303 5341.
A working smoke detector on each floor of the accommodation is a legal requirement. If you don’t have this, contact your landlord. Check regularly that all your smoke detectors are working properly.