Landlord obligations regarding renovations?

HB58

Is there any statutory obligation for private landlords to update kitchens and bathrooms in the rental properties every so many years? I am not talking about the moral duty to keep things nice but we have been told that there is a legal obligation to update kitchen and bathroom every 10 years. I have never heard of this before (but I am a newby landlord!), is this correct?

As I said, I am in no way trying to get out of any obligation to provide hot water and a decent living environment, just want to know if this person is talking out of their derriere!

Many thanks.

ValHaller

Who told you this? Someone who does kitchens an bathrooms? So they must know what they are talking about?

HB58

ValHaller wrote: »

Who told you this? Someone who does kitchens an bathrooms? So they must know what they are talking about?

No, by someone who owns about 1/40th of the property in question (which is part of a building owned by a company that is, in turn, owned by that number of people).

LEJC

Im not aware of any obligation to upadate...I have spoken to many letting agencies over the last year with a view to a proposed rental property I have....

Initially I contacted agents a year ago when the kitchen and bathroom were well over 10 years old...and was given information regarding rental oppurtunities...
I have since transformed the property and again rental agencies have had a look round...the difference being that when the property is of a higher standard you are able to ask a higher rent...

In terms of other things you will need to have electrics tested and reported on every 10 yeas and gas safety checks completed annually...

I guess its personal preference if you choose to upadte the fixtures and fittings in the house,but you will be competing with other landlors for tenants and in someways the better of standard of house,possibly the better the tenant.

HB58

I have no direct interest in the property but my husband also owns a similar proprtion (ie, about 1/40th) of it. As you might imagine, getting any sort of agreement about anything is not easy with so many interested parties!

blckbrd

The Decent Home standard only applies to private dwellings if the tenant is vulnerable (page fc14),

The bathroom may be no more than 40 years old and the kitchen 30 (page fc34).

LEJC

blckbrd wrote: »

The Decent Home standard only applies to private dwellings if the tenant is vulnerable (page fc14),

The bathroom may be no more than 40 years old and the kitchen 30 (page fc34).

How do you put an age on the kitchen or indeed the bathroom...when I had letting agencies round prior to renovation,I was aware of the age of the bathroom(had been in 35 years or so) and the kitchen had undergone some modernisation about 30 years ago but some parts of it dated much older...
The age is not the factor to go on really surely its the condition...if its been looked after then chances are its going to be better than a new one that has not...
just throwing in something for thought to ponder on rather than needing posters to really reply....

blckbrd

The Decent Homes standard references component lifetimes in relation to disrepair.

There may well be servicable 300 year old kitchens but exceptions do not make the rule. Read the info on the link.

Kynthia

No such requirement and 10 years is a ridiculous number. My kitchen and bathroom are 9 years old and apart from some mild tarnishing of the taps and some sealant needing redoing, they are virtually as good as new. No-one in their right mind would replace them when they are running a profit making business.