What does a landlord have to do about electrical safety?
In England, private landlords must have the electrics inspected and tested at least every five years, give tenants a copy of the report, and fix anything the report flags within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so. That comes from the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
The inspection produces an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). If it lists any C1, C2 or FI codes, the report is unsatisfactory and remedial work is needed.
Remedial work is where we fit in best. Send us the report, or photos of the observations page, and we price the fixes as one fixed price. Typical items include missing earthing or bonding, damaged sockets and faulty circuits. If the report says the board itself needs replacing, Norman will tell you plainly.
When the work is finished you usually need written confirmation for the tenant and the local council, so we provide the paperwork for the work we carry out.
Gas safety is a separate duty. The yearly gas safety check must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and we don't do gas work. We are happy to work alongside your Gas Safe engineer on the same property.
- EICR at least every 5 years
- And a copy to each tenant.
- Remedial work within 28 days
- Or sooner if the report gives a shorter deadline.
- Gas safety check every year
- Done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, not by us.
What are the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm rules for landlords?
Rented homes in England need a working smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a gas boiler or a wood burner. Gas cookers are usually exempt. These rules come from the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
Alarms must be working at the start of each tenancy, and landlords must repair or replace them once told they are faulty. We fit battery or mains-powered smoke, heat and CO alarms, and replace old units that have reached the end of their life. Interlinked mains alarms are a good choice for larger houses and HMOs, where one alarm can set off the others.
It is worth testing every alarm on the day a new tenancy starts and keeping a note or a photo of it. We can do that as part of a turnaround visit.
Who deals with damp and mould in a rented property?
The landlord is usually responsible for damp and mould caused by the building, such as poor ventilation, leaks or failed seals. Councils can act under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), and Awaab's Law now sets repair deadlines for social landlords. Private landlords are expected to follow, so check current guidance.
A lot of mould in Leicester's older terraces comes down to steam with nowhere to go. We fit and replace bathroom and kitchen extractor fans, including humidistat and timer models that run on their own, and fix the leaking pipes, wastes and seals that keep walls wet. We'll tell you honestly if the cause looks structural or beyond our scope.
- Extractor fans
- New or replacement fans in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Leak repairs
- Pipes, wastes, taps and seals that keep walls damp.
- Sealant
- Worn silicone around baths, showers and sinks redone.
Can you get a property ready between tenancies?
Yes. Turnaround work is often a long list of small jobs, and we price the whole list as one fixed price and do it in one visit where we can. That saves you booking an electrician, a plumber and a handyman separately while the property sits empty.
Send us the check-out report or your own list with photos. If something unexpected turns up once we are on site, we stop, show you, and price it separately. Nothing extra is done without your approval.
- Electrical
- Faulty sockets, lights, alarms, fans and RCD tripping.
- Plumbing
- Dripping taps, running toilets, leaks and blocked wastes.
- Handyman
- Sticking doors, curtain rails, blinds and loose fittings.
- Decorating
- Touch-up painting of walls, ceilings and woodwork.
How does it work if I can't be at the property?
You don't need to be there. We collect keys from your letting agent or office, or arrange a time directly with the tenant, whichever suits you. Just tell us who to contact and any access notes.
We send photos when the job is done, with before and after shots of each item, so you or your agent can see what was fixed without a visit. That record also helps with deposit disputes and with showing you dealt with a repair on time.
Invoices are addressed to the landlord or the letting agent, as you prefer, with the property address on each one.
Can you look after several rental properties?
Yes. If you have a few properties around Leicester, or as far out as Loughborough or Hinckley, you can send jobs as they come up and we'll fit them in. Each job still gets its own fixed price before we start.
We're open every day from 8am to 8pm and reply within 24 hours. Letting agents can send jobs on behalf of several landlords, and we keep invoices and photos separate for each property so nothing gets mixed up.
Renters' Rights changes are coming in and may affect some landlord duties and timescales. Check current guidance, and tell us about any deadline you are working to so we can plan the job around it.