Safety and compliance guidance if you are getting started renting out property.
We work with local landlords and agents to ensure responsible renting through advice and encouragement.
Although many landlords already have well-managed properties, others may need advice and assistance to enable them to run their business correctly, ensuring they meet their legal obligations.
If you’re thinking about renting out your property, more information can be found in the national private rented sector code of practice or on the GOV.UK website.
National guidance is available providing advice on keeping residential buildings safe from fire. Landlords who follow this guidance and correctly carry our fire risk assessments will be well placed to satisfy requirements set out under fire safety legislation.
Download the LACORS Fire Safety leaflet (PDF, 1.6mb) for more information.
Landlords must ensure all gas appliances and flues provided for tenants are safe. They must also be subject to an annual safety check carried out only by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Find out more about gas safety from the Health and Safety Executive, or visit the Gas Safe Register website.
Landlords must ensure all electrical installations in their rented properties are inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at an interval of at least every five years.
Find out more about landlord responsibilities for electrical safety from the Electrical Safety First organisation.
All social landlords are legally required to provide smoke alarms on every storey of their properties where there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation.
All landlords are also required to provide carbon monoxide alarms in any room of their properties used wholly or partly as living accommodation where a fixed combustion appliance is present (excluding gas cookers).
Landlords must repair or replace any alarm which is found to be faulty during the period of tenancy and landlords are obliged to repair or replace alarms as soon as reasonably practicable.
Further guidance can be found on GOV.UK.
By law, rented dwellings must have suitable space for the number of people living in them. Assessment should consider space for sleeping, living, cooking, dining, usable space for studying, as well as washing and sanitary accommodation.
Where appropriate, it should also consider external amenity and recreation space, including suitable and safe outdoor play space for children.
There are a number of specific requirements for landlords operating houses of multiple occupation and a mandatory licensing scheme for particular high risk properties. Visit our houses in multiple occupation page for more information.
New rental laws are coming soon and this includes changes that landlords and tenants should know about. The Renters Rights Act 2025 will become law on 1 May 2026. We can take enforcement action if landlords do not comply with the new law, including fines or criminal prosecution.
As a result, it is necessary to update our current Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy and associated Civil Financial Penalties Policy. Anyone with an interest in the private housing sector (including but not limited to tenants, landlords and letting agents) are invited to review the documents below and respond to us with their views and opinions on the proposals, prior to Members being asked to consider and formally adopt the policies.
The consultation is open for four weeks and will close on 6 April 2026. Please email any questions or comments to environmental.health@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk.
As a landlord it is your responsibility to understand what has changed. The two following websites provide a comprehensive overview:
If you are a landlord looking to achieve high standards then consider seeking accreditation for your activities.
Take a look at the DASH landlord accreditation scheme as a marker of quality service.
We ensure that private sector homes, both privately rented and owner-occupied, are of good quality and meet the current legal standards.
Complaints of disrepair and housing safety issues are investigated.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is the largest membership organisation for private landlords in the UK.
It has over 100,000 members and offers help and advice to guide members through the complex regulatory environment, with all the essential documents and guidance needed to run a successful and fully compliant business.
Newark and Sherwood District Council is a member of the NRLA. If you'd like to find out more about how they could help you as a landlord visit their website.