The move to improve standards has been in train for some time. Environmental Health introduced a free, voluntary accreditation scheme for landlords and agents last year. Rent Safe ranks landlords and agents between one and five stars. Landlords with a three star or above rating will meet the standard required under the new law and are known as ‘accredited’ landlords. They can be expected to resolve issues quickly and to continue to ensure their homes meet minimum housing standards.
If a property doesn’t meet the minimum standard, a landlord who is working on further improvements to their properties can become ‘registered’ under the Rent Safe scheme but is required to work towards improving their properties. So, if you now find yourself coming under the scope of the new law, what can you do to ensure your property meets the minimum standards required under the Public Health and Safety (Rented Dwellings) (Jersey) law?
If your property is inspected, officers will want to see that there’s a very low risk of harm to your occupants as a result of any failing in the property – outside or inside. For example,
• water, gas and electricity. These items must have whatever is needed for their proper use. All equipment needed to supply these utilities must be fully, safely and correctly installed.
• personal hygiene covers installations such as proper wash hand basins, showers and/or baths.
• sanitation and drainage covers lavatories, WC basins, drains, waste pipes, rainwater goods, inlet gullies and inspection chambers.
• food safety covers sinks, draining boards, work tops, cooking facilities (or cooker points and space for cooking facilities), cupboards and/or shelves for storing cooking and eating utensils and equipment.
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• ventilation covers elements such as airbricks, trickle vents, opening lights to windows and mechanical and non- mechanical ventilation equipment.
• space and water heating installations covers any kind of fitted space heating appliances or central heating system, and installations for heating water includes any kind of fitted water system for providing instant or stored heated water.
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