Tenancy Agreements

When signing a rental contract, be careful to take the following simple steps to ensure that you are covered both financially and personally.

1. Take out your own insurance

It is not safe to assume that the landlord's house insurance will cover theft of any of your personal possessions. More often than not the landlord's insurance policy will only cover the buildings and his or her possessions. Check the position of your lease, but unless it clearly indicates that your landlord will be responsible for insurance of your personal possessions, you should therefore look to take out your own insurance policy for any valuable possessions that you will have in the property.

2. Check whether the property is safe

You should check and get assurances or certificates from the landlord that the property complies with the following regulations:

- Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, amended in 1993

- Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998

- Smoke Detectors Act 1991 (if the property doesn't have smoke alarms ask if they can be installed)

- Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994.

You are also recommended to find out if the landlord has PAT checked (Portable Appliance Testing) the electrical appliances.

The regulations place a legal obligation on the landlord to supply you with copies of the requisite certificates. If your landlord refuses to do so then you should write to him informing him of his legal duty under the regulation to furnish you with a copy at the start of your tenancy. Failing this, you should make a formal written complaint to your local Health Safety Executive which can be found via their website.