Comment: UK Landlords Must Acquaint Themselves with New Building Regulations
Paul Bullard, Product and Professional Services Director at SFG20, the UK industry standard for building maintenance, sheds insight on how landlords can ensure compliance with tightening building regulations.
Following a recent surge in short-term lets available in the United Kingdom with ONS data revealing an increase in rental listings of up to 122 per cent in some areas between January and December 2023,
hundreds of new landlords will have entered the rental property market.
Many new landlords will be unfamiliar with the complex landscape of property management and maintenance.
In a time where there is significant new legislation to understand and comply with, including the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022, the expectations in building management have never been higher.
However, the ability to absorb and make the necessary update to your property to always remain compliant is a real concern for many landlords.
New landlords entering the short-term let market may be unaware of the stringent regulations governing property maintenance, safety standards, and tenant rights.
Building maintenance is no longer a backseat issue for property owners, but the cornerstone of health and safety, and efficient running costs.
Failing to comply with these rules can result in a series of damaging consequences.
These include:
Financial penalties, which can amount to several hundred thousand pounds
On top of this, landlords must be aware of the value of long-term cost management over short-term savings when it comes to maintaining their properties.
By maintaining their rentals effectively, they will extend its working life and save significant money.
