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Updates to Repairing Standard

Updates to Repairing Standard
January 8, 2024

There have recently been new changes and updates to the repairing standards within the lettings industry

The latest updates are as followings:

  • Condition of pipes supplying water for human consumption
  • Electrical safety standards - installations for the supply of electricity and electrical fixtures, fittings, and appliances
  • Installation of fixed heating
  • Equipment for detecting fire and for giving warning of fire/suspected fire.
  • Tolerable standard
  • Type of emergency exit locks to be fitted in common/close doors in tenements.
  •  Equipment for detecting and giving warning of CO2 (in concentration which is hazardous to health)
  • Provision for and safe access to good storage and food prep area/space

From March 1st, 2024, new regulations will be in place for the following:

  • Lead
  • Legionella
  • Residual current device
  • Other fuels
  • Fixed heating system
  • Safe kitchens
  • Safe access to common parts
  • Safe & secure common doors
  • Consent to work on common parts

Lead – Lead in drinking water

  • New guidance specifies the house needs to be free of lead pipes from stopcock to kitchen tap and if this cannot be confirmed a water quality test needs to be conducted.
  • In the old regulations it clarifies that the main cause of lead in water the pipes leading up to or in the house and more common in house pre 1970 that have not had pipe, tanks or fittings replaced.
  • A new standard of five micrograms per litre is required to be met by 2036.
  • All private rented properties should not have any lead in the water, (this includes drinking water outlets, pipework to drinking water outlets, water storage tanks within the dwelling, water storage tanks in loft including common storage tanks in tank rooms or in roof space)
  • Unless landlord cannot replace pipes due to lack of consent from other owners, lead pipes and tanks must be removed to be compliant.

Legionella –

  • Legionella must be done before the property is first let.
  • Testing should be done no more than 2 years.

Residual current devices – RCD’s

  • RCD – a device to reduce the risk of electrocution and fore by breaking circuit in event of a fault.
  • There must be one or more RCD fitted in consumer unit/fuse box.
  • RCD is a sensitive safety device which switches of electricity automatically when there is a faulty
  • Absence of this means property is not compliant with repairing standards.
  • Requirements are met if property has at least one rcd and valid EICR.

Other fuels

  • Other common types of fuel are Oil, liquid petroleum gas, solid fuel (coal or wood) and biomass.

Fixed Heating Systems

Safe Kitchens

  • New standard will now include a requirement to have safe accessible food storage and food prep space in rented properties.
  • Do not need to supply white goods.
  • New builds and designing kitchens requirements already exist/in place.

Safe access to common parts

Safe & secure common doors

  • Regulations and government guidance specifies locks need to allow someone to open them from inside with key, so the exit is not blocked in case of fire.

Consent to work on common parts

  • Regulations include that a private rented flat in a tenement does not fail repairing standard if work needed to comply with standard cannot be conducted because majority of owners have refuse consent for work to be conducted.
  • If a landlord cannot comply with standards, they need to have a satisfactory standard.

Extra Info

  • Links below give more information and details on new regulations as well.
  • https://scottishlandlords.com/events/scottish-letting-day/

We are buying a house through Euan at The Property Store East Kilbride and he has been great. Knew all about the property with questions we had, helped us envision ourselves there and was always available on the phone with questions we had. Great estate agent and would definitely recommend him and The Property Store   Elizabeth Allum

Property store have been so helpful in helping me find my letting property. It’s my first flat that I am letting on my own and they have been so good with all the information I have asked for. No question was a bother. Staff are lovely. Highly recommend! Rachel and grace you have both been stars with my endless amount of questions!!! A credit to the company.

  • - Taylor - Tenant

Sold my house last year through The Property Store - they were absolutely fantastic. Euan was excellent and went above and beyond with his customer care. Nothing was a bother for him. Would highly recommend them.

  • - Lyndsay

"Can you pass thanks on to the landlord. I've enjoyed living in the house it's just unfortunate my hip condition has deteriorated and caused me to move. I hope the new tenants enjoy their new home. Thank you to property store for all the help and support. A very professional team. I would highly recommend you to others."

  • Helen
  • - Tenant

Good customer service, always happy to help, Andrew is fab! can't complain

  • - Danielle - Tenant

"The Property Store was fantastic in finding me a property. They really took such a personal approach to finding me a suitable flat and take great care to ensure its the right fit. The staff are very friendly and will do everything they can to help in anyway they can. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a property."

  • Debbie Fraser

"For some time I had been looking at further property development opportunities on a buy to let basis. As a landlord I had already been working successfully with the Property Store for a number of years and I took the opportunity to discuss this with them. Living remote from East Kilbride and having talked through my requirements it was clear that the most suitable option was for the Property Store to source, develop and let on a fully managed basis.

I have been very impressed with the speed that things have moved particularly how quickly the properties are upgraded and prepared for letting to the point where we have had tenants in advance of completion of works. As a result I have now added three properties in a matter of a few months.

As a remote landlord it is essential that you build confidence in the agents you are dealing with and the team at the Property Store have been excellent to deal with. They are a well-trained motivated team who know what they are doing.

The Property Store utilises the services of a number of key contractors with whom they have has a business relationship for many years. The contractors know the exacting requirements of owner Lorraine Robb and can be trusted to provide competitive quotes as well as completing works to a high standard. The Property Store fully inspect all works and provide regular feedback and are quick to take care of those small details that make all the difference.

I have no hesitation in recommending the Property Store to anyone considering a fully managed service from sourcing to redevelopment to letting."

  • Landlord and Investor

Excellent customer service from Gillian at The Property Store.
Reported a repair and the contractor was at my property within an hour.
Delighted with the service from both.

  • - Julie

"All of the staff are great, very professional, helpful and welcoming.
Made our journey very easy and stress free, would highly recommend them!!!
From viewing the property to handover of our keys everything was smooth, no issues and now have a very happy household
Thank you all for your help."

  • - Allyson

"Having previously rented accommodation with other letting agents in the area, The Property Store are miles ahead of the rest. Lovely maintained properties and professional and courteous staff. Highly recommend!"

  • Letting agents
  • - Claire Moran