Legal requirements for holiday letting...

When setting up a holiday let the list of things to do can seem endless, so we have put together some helpful information in this blog, it includes a list of the requirements you must have that will allow you to let your property, safely and legally to cover yourself and your guests. 

Gas/oil safety certificate 
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require testing of all gas appliances by a Gas Safe registered installer. Including oil heating systems and boilers.
​When to renew – By law annually 

Electrical safety certificate & PAT  
Landlords are required by law to make sure all electrical circuits and fixed units are safe and comply with current regulations. Electrical testing must be carried out by a qualified electrician.  
When to renew – Recommended at a minimum every 5 years 
​
(Portable Appliance Testing) Testing of electrical appliances must be carried out by a qualified electrician using specific testing equipment.
​When to renew –Recommended every 3 years 

Fire risk assessment & Log burner/open fire 
Legislation requires you to undertake a fire risk assessment, you can do this yourself or get a qualified fire risk assessor in to do a survey of the property. 
When to renew – recommended annually if changes made to property e.g, new room layout, new Furniture
New log burners and C02 alarms must be fitted by a qualified installer who will give you a certificate which your insurance company likely will need a copy of, also follow the supplier's maintenance guides making sure not to void the warranty. Open fires should also be checked before holiday letting use by a registered chimney sweep. 
When to renew – recommended annually 

Holiday let insurance 
It is vital to have a holiday home policy that includes buildings, contents and public liability insurance. If you employ people for cleaning and maintaining the property then employers' liability is also a legal requirement. 
​When to renew – Always have active insurance cover  

First aid kit, torch and fire blanket/extinguisher in the property 
Your fire risk assessor can advise on the location and type of fire blanket/extinguishers required. Usually kept in the kitchen and by open/log fires. These details should be in your guest folder and easily accessible.

Property report/Risk assessment 
This should be carried out and updated each year, the assessment should check all areas of the property including outdoors for hazards or potential safety issues. Note down what they are and what things you are putting in place to avoid potential injury. e.g a handrail next to outdoor steps that may become slippery in winter.
When on-boarding with Porth Holidays we carry out risk assessments that cover, safety, security and a survey of the property.
Provided free and updated annually.

Waste removal  
(Information provided by Cornwall council) 
If the property is available for 140 days or more a year need to register for business rates. Please contact Cornwall Councils Valuation Office on: 03000 501501. Any waste produced from a business is classified in law as commercial waste. The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 details how waste is classified. These classifications include waste generated by:  Self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, guesthouses.  
​This can also include your own home, annexe or a caravan if you rent these out for self-catering accommodation. Even for short periods of time. Commercial waste collection and disposal costs are not included in business rates.  

We have partnered with 'CTC Waste' a Cornish waste removal company who specialise in holiday lets, they cover all areas of Cornwall.

We have put together a super useful owner's pack which explains all the things you need to know when setting up your property for holiday letting, we also added some useful contact details of local suppliers we trust that provide all of the above services as well as all the details of our packages and services. Now is the time to join us at Porth Holidays, so get in touch to arrange a meeting or let us know if you’d like us to send you out an owner's pack in the post or via email! If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact us direct to discuss your property.
​[email protected] / 01736 396 339 

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