Compliance
Energy Performance Certificate
An EPC is a compulsory review of how energy efficient a property is. It is a legal requirement for landlords to have a valid EPC in place with a minimum band E rating before the property is advertised for let.
An EPC measures the energy efficiency of a property using a scale of A-G and is valid for 10 years. Legislation specific to lettings requires properties let on a new tenancy, or renewed on a fixed term, to have an EPC rating of band A-E. It is not legal to let a property on an EPC rating of band F or G – from April 2020 all existing tenancies must meet the minimum band E rating too. There are exemptions for certain properties and these have to be registered on the Government’s exemptions register which can be found here.
Contact us for advice on renewing or improving your EPC rating or visit the national EPC register to check a property rating here.
Anti-Money Laundering
Standard checks performed to confirm the identity and authenticity of any funds involved in a transaction.
AML is a legal requirement for all estate agents, with HMRC targeting any criminal activity in the property sector. Every time you market a property with an estate agent you’ll need to provide a valid photo ID and a recent utility bill.
We will perform these same checks on your prospective tenant
London property licensing varies from borough to borough, making it tricky to keep up with changing legislation in different parts of the city.
As a landlord with Bluefield, we will keep you informed about all licensing requirements where you have rental properties and can also assist with your license application from start to finish.
Gas Safety Certificates
A compulsory test proving that gas appliances and supply points in the property are safe.
GSCs must be renewed every 12 months by a registered engineer who will check the flue and appliance. Even if we don’t manage your rental portfolio, we can assist you with arranging these checks.
Also, remember to give your tenants a copy of the new GSC within 28 days of the check.
PAT
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) ensures all portable electrical appliances in your property are tested and approved as safe to use.
The resulting PAT certificate documents the safety testing of portable electrical appliances e.g. fridge/freezer, washing machine, toaster etc. Anything rated as unsafe should be replaced or removed from the property.
EICR
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) assesses the safety of the existing electrical installation within a property and describes its condition. The assessment will cover consumer units (fuse boards), protective bonding, lighting, switches, sockets etc.
All rental properties need an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) with a rating of ‘satisfactory’. If the outcome is ‘unsatisfactory’ then remedial works must be completed within 28 days, or sooner if required. A ‘satisfactory’ EICR is valid for up to five years.
Legionnaires’ Disease
A form of pneumonia that is caused by inhalation of droplets of water containing the Legionella bacteria.
While uncommon, it is the responsibility of all landlords to assess their properties for risk.
A very simple initial assessment will show if water systems in your properties are at risk. Most normal domestic systems are considered low-risk due to the regular usage and flow of water, limiting standing water.
Contact us for advice on minimising risks and how to arrange an assessment.
Clean and Check-in
Rental properties must be clean when a tenant moves in, and a check-in records the state of the property at the time.
This makes both the move-in and move-out process run smoothly and minimises disagreements and delays when claiming for cleaning or damages at the end of a tenancy.
We advise a professional clean before the move-in date and an independent inventory at check-in to record the exact condition of all spaces inside and outside the property.
Right to Rent
It is a legal requirement to thoroughly check a tenant’s right to rent a property in the UK.
All prospective tenants over 18 years of age must be checked.
We have technology that enables us to quickly check a tenant’s eligibility but it’s also important that either you or your agent meets the tenant in person before keys to the property are released.
BLUEFIELD ESTATE AGENTS IN-HOUSE COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE – UPDATED 2023
We are committed to providing a professional service to all our clients and customers. When something goes wrong, we need you to tell us about it. This will help us to improve our standards.
We will where appropriate, make reasonable adjustments for consumers who might be disadvantaged because of factors such as their age, infirmity, disability, lack of knowledge, lack of linguistic or numeracy ability, economic circumstances, bereavement or do not speak English as a first language
If you have a complaint, please put it in writing, including as much detail as possible. We will then respond in line with the timeframes set out below (if you feel we have not sought to address your complaints within eight weeks, you may be able to refer your complaint to the Property Ombudsman to consider without our final viewpoint on the matter).
What will happen next?
- We will send you written acknowledgment of the receipt of your complaint within three working days of receiving it, enclosing a copy of this procedure.
- We will then investigate your complaint. This will normally be dealt with by the office manager who will review your file and speak to the member of staff who dealt with you. A formal written outcome of our investigation will be sent to you within 15 working days of receipt of the original complaint.
- If, at this stage, you are still not satisfied, you should contact us again and we will arrange for a separate review to take place by a senior member of staff.
- We will write to you within 15 working days of receiving your request for a review, confirming our final viewpoint on the matter.
- If you are still not satisfied with our final viewpoint (or more than 8 weeks has elapsed since the complaint was first made) you can request an independent review from The Property Ombudsman without charge.
The Property Ombudsman
Milford House
43-55 Milford Street
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2BP
01722 333 306
Please note the following:
You will need to submit your complaint to The Property Ombudsman within 12 months from the date of our final viewpoint, including any evidence to support your case.
The Property Ombudsman requires that all complaints are addressed through this in-house complaints procedure, before being submitted for an independent review.