Repair standards as a private landlord

You’re legally responsible for the property meeting a set of standards so it’s safe to rent. It’s your responsibility even if you use a letting agent. 

You must repair your property if it fails to meet the standards. If you do not, your tenant can take you to a housing tribunal. 

The standards you must meet 

You must make sure your property meets both: 

• the repairing standard  
• the tolerable standard 

These include requirements for maintaining both: 

• the property 
• any communal areas, like stairwells and closes 

Get detailed guidance on the repairing standard on gov.scot. This includes information on the tolerable standard. 

What to check in your property 

The following list is a summary of some of the main requirements in the standards. 

The building and exterior 

The property must: 

• be structurally stable 
• be wind and watertight 
• have no signs of rising damp 
• have no substantive penetrating damp 
• have a proper entrance and enough access to outside doors 
• have enough ventilation, light, heating and insulation 
• have any walls and roof in reasonable condition 

Your tenants must be able to get to and use any communal areas safely. 

Electrical safety 

You must make sure the electrical system: 

• is safe, working and in reasonable condition, including sockets and light fittings
• has a safety inspection by a registered electrician at least once every 5 years 

The electrical system must have a Residual Current Device (RCD). This is a safety feature that switches the electricity off automatically if there’s a fault. 

You must also make sure appliances you supply are safe and regularly inspected. For example, cookers and kettles. 

Find a registered electrician on the Electrical Safety First website. 

Gas safety 

Any gas supply or equipment must be: 

• safely installed and maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer 
• working and in a reasonable condition  
• checked annually by a registered engineer 

Search the Gas Safe register for an engineer. 

Fire safety 

The property must have: 

interlinked smoke alarms in the living room and every hallway and landing 

• a heat alarm in the kitchen 
• a carbon monoxide detector in all spaces with a carbon fuelled appliance, such as a heater or boiler 

If renting to tenants who are deaf or hard of hearing, you must install specialist smoke and fire alarms. 

Get detailed guidance on fire and smoke alarm standards on gov.scot. 

Tenements must have emergency exit doors fitted. These must have locks that tenants can open from the inside without a key. 

Water and sewerage systems 

The property must have a working: 

• water supply that’s safe to use 
• toilet 
• drainage and sewerage system 

It must also have a sink, a bath or shower, and a wash basin. These must have hot and cold water. 

Food and cooking 

The property must have: 

• a suitable area to use for storing and preparing food 
• cooking facilities or somewhere a tenant can install their own 

Furniture and fittings 

You must make sure any furniture and fittings you provide are in reasonable condition and safe to use. This includes things like carpets and equipment.

Legionella health risks 

You must assess your property for health risks associated with legionella. This is a form of pneumonia that can be deadly. 

Read Health and Safety Executive guidance on assessing legionella risks.