Health and safety in rented accommodation

Landlords are generally responsible for property maintenance and major repairs. This includes repairs to the structure and exterior, to heating and hot water systems, basins, sinks, baths and other sanitaryware.

Housing standards

A property should be safe and healthy for occupiers, so responsibility should be taken to ensure that:

  • the dwelling is capable of providing adequate heating, which ideally means controllable central heating and insulation, with equipment and the fabric of the building in good repair
  • electricity and gas supplies, and the sanitation (drains, basins, sinks, baths and WCs) in working order
  • there are no fall or trip hazards
  • water heating equipment is in working order
  • the property is free from damp

More information can be found at:

Gas and electrical safety

The landlord must ensure that:

  • all gas appliances and fittings are maintained in good order
  • that gas boliers get an annual safety check - carried out by someone who is registered with CORGI (Council for Registered Gas Installers)
  • a record of the safety checks is kept and issued to you within 28 days of each annual check

The occupier is responsible for maintaining gas appliances which they own, or are entitled to take with them at the end of the letting.

By law, the landlord must ensure that the electrical system and any electrical appliances supplied with the let such as cookers, kettles, toasters, washing machines and immersion heaters are safe to use.

If the landlord supplies new appliances, he or she should also provide any accompanying instruction booklets.

If Northern Ireland Electricity believes that the electricity at your property is unsafe, it can disconnect the supply.

More information can be found at:

Fire safety

The 2004 Housing Act requires the landlord to do several things about fire safety:

  • there has to be an adequate means of escape
  • depending on the size of the property, there may have to be smoke alarms and fire extinguishing equipment

Houses in Multiple Occupation

If the Housing Executive considers the property to be a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and subject to licensing, the landlord must also comply with conditions in relation to fire safety.

By law, the landlord must:

  • make sure that all the gas appliances they provide are maintained in good order and that a Corgi-registered plumber carries out a safety check each year
  • maintain all electrical installations (ie fixed wiring) and any electrical appliances they provide (ie cookers, kettles) and make sure they are safe to use
  • make sure any furniture and furnishings they provide meet the fire resistance regulations

If the HMO you live in isn't up to standard, you can complain to your local Housing Executive office.

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