From March 1st 2024, there are some changes to the Repairing Standard that covers the upkeep of private rented tenancies in Scotland. Most notably for private landlords, these are;
LEAD PIPES
New rules relating to lead pipes mean that any visible lead piping will need to be replaced. Specifically, this applies to piping that carries drinking water to a tap/outlet, or between a rental property and the boundary stopcock. This will help ensure that drinking water in rented properties is free from lead.
FIXED HEATING SYSTEMS
Under the changes, rental properties must have a fixed heating system installed in the property. The definition of a fixed heating system is a permanent installation in the property which is plumbed or hard wired. It should be safe to use, in good condition and reasonable working order. It is no longer acceptable to rely on plug-in or portable heaters, except on a temporary basis.
UPGRADE TO ELECTRICAL SAFETY (SPECIFICALLY, RCD)
In order to protect tenants against electric shock and reduce the risk of electrical fires, there must be one or more Residual Current Devices (RCD) fitted in the consumer unit (fuse box). An RCD is a sensitive safety device that automatically switches off electricity if there is a fault. RCDs offer a level of personal protection that ordinary fuses and circuit-breakers cannot provide. We expect 95% of Umega managed properties to be unaffected by the changes relating to RCDs.
COMMON DOORS
This one is not a big change in practice as we already work hard to ensure common entry doors are in full working order, but the change to the Repairing Standard is as follows; Where a house is in a tenement and has a common door, the door must be secure and fitted with satisfactory emergency exit locks. In order to be secure all common doors must be lockable, and the common front door must have a secure entry system that informs the tenant when a visitor or delivery has arrived and allows the tenant to open the common front door remotely. Repairs to common doors require collaboration between flat owners in a stair which can sometimes slow down repairs to communal entry systems, but this change to the Repairing Standard should help speed things up in future cases.