What a property needs

Question

So I have a friend that rents out to tennants, I believe that the property isn't up to standards and he could probably get in trouble if he was inspected.

So what does a property need to be legally rentable? And does somebody need to come around and inspect it ?

Ned Carey · Answer

@Harry Wilson you already got a couple of good answers.  It will really depend on your local jurisdiction regarding specific regulations and enforcement. Some areas require licenses and inspections, some do not. If you rent to section 8, they will do an initial inspection and regular inspections afterwards.

Sometimes as important as regulations is tenant expectations and your competition. You may meet legal requirements but your property may not be desirable vs the competition. In my area good tenants expect updated even freshly renovated houses. We have started putting granite counter tops in our rentals. This is where knowing your market becomes important. Take every chance you can to see other investors properties.

Harry Wilson · Answer

wow thanks

Michele Fischer · Answer

Different areas have different codes, and different levels of enforcement.  If the landlord is providing substandard housing, it could be a result of  the tenant not taking care of the property or the landlord not keeping reserves to make needed repairs.  An improvement in facilities usually leads to an increase in rent.  Here's what we operate by:

Landlord Responsibilities:  Landlord will at all times during the tenancy keep the premises fit for human habitation, and shall in particular:

a.Cultivate, care for and mow surrounding grass, lawn, flowers, and shrubbery

b.Maintain the premises to substantially comply with any applicable code, statue, ordinance, or regulation governing the premise

c.Maintain the roof, floors, walls, chimneys, fireplaces, foundations, and all other structural components in reasonable good repair as to be usable and capable of resisting normal loads

d.Keep any shared or common areas reasonable clean, sanitary, and safe from defects increasing the hazards of fire or accident

e.Provide a reasonable program for the control of infestation by insects, rodents, and other pests at move in

f.Except where the condition is attributable to normal wear and tear, make repairs and arrangements necessary to put and keep the premises in as good condition as at move in

g.Provide reasonably adequate locks and provide keys to the tenant

h.Maintain all electrical, plumbing (main lines), heating, and other facilities and appliances supplied by Landlord in reasonably good working order

i.Maintain the unit in reasonably weather tight condition

j.Provide facilities adequate to supply heat and water and hot water as reasonably required by the tenant

Danny F. · Answer

For each apartment, flat or house being rented as a separate unit, the landlord must ensure that the rental property is in a proper state of structural repair. The Regulations require the landlord to maintain the property in a sound state, inside and out. They specify that roofs, roofing tiles, slates, windows, floors, ceilings, walls, stairs, doors, skirting boards, fascias, tiles on any floor, ceiling and wall, gutters, down pipes, fittings, furnishings, gardens and common areas must be maintained in good condition and repair. They must not be defective due to dampness or otherwise.

The landlord must ensure that electricity or gas supplies are safe and in good repair, and that every room has adequate ventilation and both natural and artificial lighting.

Laundry, food preparation and food storage

Article 8 of the 2008 Regulations (as amended) requires private landlords to provide access to:

• A washing machine
• A clothes-dryer if the dwelling does not have a private garden or yard

They must also provide facilities for cooking and for the hygienic storage of food, to include the following:

• 4-ring hob with oven and grill
• Cooker hood or extractor fan
• Fridge and freezer, or a fridge-freezer
• Microwave oven
• Kitchen cupboards that are suitable and adequate for storing food
• Sink with mains water supply, hot water and draining area

For dwellings rented from local authorities and approved housing bodies, the relevant requirements are in Article 7 of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993. This Article requires the landlord to provide facilities for:

• Installation of cooking equipment with provision, where necessary, for the safe and effective removal of fumes
• Hygienic storage of food

Other requirements

All landlords must provide:

• A sink with hot and cold water
• A separate room, for the exclusive use of each rented unit, with a toilet, a washbasin and a fixed bath or shower with hot and cold water
• A fixed heating appliance in each room, which is capable of providing effective heating and which the tenant can control
• A fire blanket and smoke alarms
• Access to vermin-proof and pest-proof refuse storage facilities

In multi-unit buildings, the landlord must provide each unit with a mains-wired smoke alarm; a fire blanket; and an emergency evacuation plan. There must also be emergency lighting in common areas.

Here is a link from the national healthy housing standards: http://www.nchh.org/Portals/0/Contents/NHHS_Full_D...

I hope this helps.

Much aloha,

Danny

What a property needs

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