It’s the law

In early 2014 the standards regarding the manufacture, supply and professional installation of internal window blinds changed significantly. It is now illegal to supply or professionally install an internal window blind which does not comply with the child safety requirements of BS EN 13120:2009+A1:2014

 

Mandatory requirements:

The new standard aims to protect babies and small children by:

  • Installation of child safe blinds to ALL HOMES whether children are present or not
  • Limitations on cord and chain lengths
  • Safety devices for preventing any cords or chains from creating a hazardous loop
  • The fitting of safety devices on cords and chains at the point of manufacture
  • The testing of all safety critical components of internal blinds
  • Safety warnings and product instructions

 

Full details

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 came into force on 1st October 2022.  From this date, all relevant landlords must:

 

Ensure at least one smoke alarm is equipped on each story of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation to be fitted following individual manufacturers instructions. This has been a legal requirement since 2015. Smoke alarms should be compliant with Bristish Standards BS 5839-6. Where  battery powered alarms are selected, alarms with “sealed for life” batteries rather than alarms with replaceable batteries should be used.

Ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance following individual manufacturers instructions. Carbon Monoxide alarms should be compliant with British Standards BS 50291.  Where  battery powered alarms are selected, alarms with “sealed for life” batteries rather than alarms with replaceable batteries should be used. 

Ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replace once informed and found they are faulty.

 

Penalties of up to £5,000 for those that flaunt the Regulations are enforceable by the Local Authority.

Landlords are now legally required to give tenants six months’ notice to vacate under a Section 21 notice. The tenants notice period remains unchanged, at one months to the landlord.

This is not backdated so any notice issued prior to this date will remain.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Government have passed The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.

Landlords and agents will need to ensure electrical installation inspections and testing are carried out for all new tenancies in England from 1 July 2020 or from 1 April 2021 for existing tenancies. 

Both Tamlyns and Tamlyns Professional Services had a great evening at the Pride of Sedgemoor awards last Thursday. Our winner of Young Person of the Year Award was Uwyn Llewelyn. 

Uwyn, along with his mother and the rest of his family have set up 'The Gift of Giving Homeless Shoebox Appeal', which has taken off in the local, and wider reaching area and have just been awarded ‘Charity’ status. 

It was a great event to have been part of.

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