Many landlords assume that once a smoke alarm is installed and an electrician issues a certificate, they have fulfilled their legal obligations. In practice, this is not always enough. During audits and compliance checks, landlords may need to demonstrate that smoke alarms are not only installed but also correctly located, mains powered, interlinked, within their service life, and suitable for the property. What Does the Law Require? In Wales, landlords must ensure that: There is at least one...

If your property has no electricity, please work through the following checks before arranging an electrician or reporting the issue. Many power outages are caused by supplier, meter or appliance issues rather than faults with the property's electrical installation. 1. Is the Entire Property Without Power? Please establish whether: The entire property is without power. Only certain rooms are affected. Only the lights are affected. Only the sockets are affected. A single appliance is not...

Over the past few months, many landlords have contacted us asking whether they need to make changes because of the new Renters’ Rights Act being discussed in the media. The short answer is: generally, no. Properties in Wales are governed under completely different legislation from England. The proposed Renters’ Rights Act applies to England only. Rental properties in Wales are instead regulated under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, which has already introduced major reforms to the Welsh...