As a landlord of a rental property, there are certain responsibilities which you should be aware of. If you decide to rent your residential property furnished, then it is imperative that you ensure that the furnishings, which you will be renting to your tenant, must meet a strict standard. Here is the breakdown of regulations regarding furnishing, so read on and treat your responsibilities as a landlord seriously!
From January 1997, all furniture in tenanted residential property must comply with the 1993 amendments of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. It covers the supply, hire or lending of upholstered furniture in the course of business.
The regulations apply to arm chairs, three piece suites, sofas, sofa beds, futons, beds, mattresses, divans, pillow, garden furniture which could be used indoors, and even cushions and pillows.
Antique furniture or furniture manufactured before 1950 is excluded from the regulations, as well as bed clothes, pillowcases, sleeping bags, curtains and carpets. But just because these antique items are legal does not mean they are ethical – if you think they pose a serious fire risk, do not include them in the furnishings you rent to your tenant.
Your furniture should carry a manufacturer’s label, which is permanent and non-detachable, to comply with the regulations. Upholstered items must have fire resistant filling material and they must pass the “match resistance test” and the “cigarette test”.
If you intend on renting a residential property furnished, it is your duty to ensure that the furniture and furnishings comply with current safety regulations. For most landlords, these regulations are not an issue, because they will let their property unfurnished or part furnished and without any soft furnishings, except for carpets and curtains. Even if, as a landlord, you decide to let your property furnished, given that it is an offence to sell non-compliant items, as long as you buy new, you will be fine.
In this respect, second hand furniture can be dangerous. Ensure that the correct labels are in place, establishing the product and its materials as fire resistant. If these labels are not clearly visible, you could leave yourself open to prosecution and also put your tenants in a potentially dangerous environment.
If you fail in your obligations as a landlord of a residential property, you could be in big trouble. Ensure that your furniture meets the safety standards expected, and you stay on the right side of the law.
John McE writes articles on a number of subjects, including buy to let property, on behalf of Buy to Let Furnishings, Rental Property Furniture Specialists who offer a complete range of furnishing packages for buy to let property, including Ready To Rent Packs for Landlords.
[tags]buy to let, buy to let house, buy to let flat, buy to let furnishing, landlord furniture, landlord[/tags]
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