Compliance for Landlords

As a landlord in Scotland, you are legally responsible for ensuring your property meets key safety and compliance standards. Below is a summary of the main requirements:

Electrical Safety (EICR & PAT)

  • An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) must be carried out at least every 5 years (or sooner if advised), this covers all fixed wiring and electrical systems
  • The EICR must be completed by a qualified, competent electrician who is a member of SELECT, NAPIT or NICEIC 
  • New build and newly rewired properties meet the standard providing an in-date Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) is in place
  • A Portable Appliance Test (PAT) is required for any appliances that are moveable and fitted with a plug that you provide as the landlord
  • The PAT should be done at the beginning of a new tenancy, or at the expiration of the EICR, whichever comes first
  • The PAT can be carried out by a landlord provided they have undergone relevant training
  • Reports must be kept for 6 years
  • All landlords are advised to read the guidance in full to familiarise themselves with the detail of the requirements.

Gas Safety

  • Gas safety regulations require landlords to ensure that all gas fittings are maintained in a safe condition, and all gas fittings and flues must be checked for safety at least every 12 months
  • Checks must be completed by a Gas Safe registered engineer
  • A Gas Safety Certificate (GSC) must be provided to tenants
  • Appropriate checks should be carried out and any unsafe equipment rectified or removed before a new tenancy begins
  • In addition to the statutory GSC, it is best practice to ensure that all boilers and appliances and serviced annually
  • Records must be kept for 2 years

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors

  • CO detectors are required in any space with a carbon-fuel appliance (excluding cooking appliances) e.g. a gas/oil boiler, gas/oil fire, wood burning stove or open coal fire
  • CO detectors must have a long life battery or be a mains powered detector
  • CO detectors are also required in rooms with a flue passing through
  • CO detectors must meet approved safety standards and be correctly positioned

Smoke & Heat Alarms

Properties must have:

  • A smoke alarm in the main living room
  • A smoke alarm in hallways/landings
  • A heat alarm in the kitchen
  • All alarms must be ceiling-mounted and interlinked
  • Smoke and heat alarms must be regularly maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations
  • In some cases (e.g. Houses in Multiple Occupation), a higher standard of fire detection may be required. Where this applies, the property will only meet the Repairing Standard if those enhanced requirements are fully complied with

Fire Safety

  • Furniture and soft furnishings supplied by the landlord must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988.
  • It is best practice to provide a fire blanket or extinguisher in the kitchen and these should be maintained and serviced regularly

Legionnaires’ Disease

  • Landlords must assess and control the risk of Legionnaires’ disease by carrying out a risk assessment
  • The risk assessment should be regularly reviewed and control measures should be implemented where recommended

Lead in Water

  • Properties built before 1970 must be tested for the lead content in drinking water
  • Levels must not exceed 10 micrograms of lead per litre
  • The test involves collecting a water sample first thing in the morning, before any water has been used, and sending it to a laboratory for analysis
  • If elevated lead levels are found, the pipework must be investigated by a plumber and replaced where possible

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)

  • A valid EPC must be available to prospective tenants
  • The EPC is used to show the property’s energy efficiency rating and is valid for 10 years