Top Property Compliance Tips for Devon & Cornwall Landlords

How a Property Health & Compliance Review Helps You Stay on Top of Your Duties

Being a landlord in Devon or Cornwall isn’t just about collecting rent – it means providing a home that is safe, healthy and legally compliant. Regulations can feel like a moving target, and it’s easy to miss something until a tenant, council officer or insurer points it out.

This guide sets out the core areas you need to think about and explains how my Property Health & Compliance Review can help you keep on top of them in a practical, joined-up way.

I’m John Castell – Housing Health & Compliance Consultant, working across Devon and Cornwall, with a background in housing association asset management and qualifications in HHSRS, IOSH, asbestos management, energy assessment and electrical work.

Understanding Your Legal Obligations

Key frameworks for landlords

As a landlord in Devon or Cornwall, you need to be familiar with several key requirements, including:

• Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) The system councils use to assess hazards in rented homes (damp and mould, cold, fire, falls, electrical safety, etc.).

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Most rented properties must have a valid EPC, and in many cases meet a minimum rating before they can be let.

• Gas SafetyAnnual gas safety checks are required for properties with gas appliances, carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

• Electrical SafetyMost rented homes must have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), typically at least every five years, confirming the installation meets current safety standards.
  

On top of that, some properties require licensing (for example, HMOs) and some local councils operate additional or selective licensing schemes, so it’s important to check with the relevant Devon or Cornwall authority for any local rules.

How I can help

A Property Health & Compliance Review doesn’t replace your certificates, but it does help you:

• View the property through an HHSRS-informed lens, the same way a council inspector might.

• Spot gaps or inconsistencies between what the paperwork says and what the property is actually like to live in.

• Prioritise what needs attention first, rather than guessing.
  

Safety Standards and Inspections

Regular safety checks

Safety should always come first. As a landlord, you should be confident that:

• Electrical installations are safe Not just “it hasn’t blown a fuse yet”, but that the installation appears in good condition and is supported by a valid EICR. As a qualified electrician, I carry out a visual electrical review and advise when a full EICR should be commissioned.

• Fire safety measures are in place Working smoke alarms (and CO alarms where required), escape routes kept clear, and sensible precautions based on the layout and use of the property.

• Gas appliances are checked annually With records kept and action taken quickly on any advisory notes.
  

My Property Health & Compliance Review focuses on the real-world condition of the home: damp, hazards, obvious electrical issues, fire risks and general health and safety, not just whether a piece of paper exists.

Documentation

Keeping organised records for:

• Gas safety

• EICR

• Fire precautions (where relevant)

• My Property Health & Compliance Review report

…gives you a solid audit trail if there’s ever a query from a tenant, council or insurer.

Tenant Rights and Responsibilities

Understanding tenant rights

Tenants are entitled to:

• A safe, healthy and habitable home

• Privacy and quiet enjoyment of the property

• Proper notice before you visit, inspect or carry out works (except in emergencies)

A lot of disputes arise not because landlords don’t care, but because communication is poor or issues aren’t taken seriously early enough.

Clear responsibilities

Your tenancy agreement should spell out who is responsible for:

• Repairs and maintenance (and how to report them)

• Keeping the property ventilated/heated appropriately

• Looking after external areas, if relevant

My review can help you back this up with practical reality:

• Are there persistent damp and mould issues that won’t be solved by telling tenants to “open a window”?

• Are there hazards or defects you should reasonably deal with, regardless of any small-print?

This makes it easier to have fair, clear conversations with tenants.

Property Maintenance and Upkeep

Regular checks

Regular maintenance is cheaper than crisis management. You’ll want to keep an eye on:

• Plumbing – leaks, failing sealant, signs of water ingress

• Heating and ventilation – are systems working correctly and used sensibly?

• External areas – loose steps, paths, handrails, gutters and downpipes

When I carry out a Property Health & Compliance Review, I’m looking for the things that tend to snowball into bigger problems – especially damp, condensation, mould and safety hazards.

Prompt repairs

Acting promptly on issues highlighted in the review:

• Reduces the risk of serious damage

• Helps avoid formal complaints and disrepair claims

• Shows tenants and councils you’re managing the property responsibly
  

Energy Efficiency, Comfort and (Where Relevant) Solar PV

Improving energy efficiency and comfort

Rising energy costs have made comfort and running costs a central concern for tenants. Based on your existing EPC and what I see on site, I can suggest:

• Sensible insulation and draught-proofing measures

• Ventilation improvements to reduce condensation without making the home cold

• Heating and control tweaks that help both comfort and efficiency
  

Existing solar PV systems

If your property has an older Feed-in Tariff solar PV system and you’re:

• Not convinced it’s performing as promised, or

• Considering upgrades or batteries but worried about FiT,

I also offer a Solar PV Performance & FiT Protection Review. That looks at:

• What you were originally told to expect (kWh and returns)

• What the system has actually been generating

• Whether the original sales case was realistic

• How you might improve the system or add storage without risking your existing FiT (subject to Ofgem/FiT licensee rules)

This dovetails neatly with the overall property health picture: comfort, running costs and fair expectations.

Insurance and Liability

Getting the right cover

Most landlords will need:

• Landlord insurance (buildings, liability, often loss of rent)

• Contents cover for any furnishings or appliances you provide

Insurers like evidence that you’re on top of maintenance and risk. A Property Health & Compliance Review, alongside your safety certificates, can help demonstrate that.

Understanding your liability

In practice, your liability often hinges on:

• Whether you knew or should have known about a defect or hazard

• Whether you took reasonable steps to put it right in good time

My review helps by:

• Highlighting key hazards from an HHSRS-informed perspective

• Giving you a dated, written record of what was found and what was recommended

If a problem arises later, you’re in a stronger position than if nothing has ever been documented.

Keeping Up with Changing Regulations

Staying informed

Rules and expectations around renting are evolving. To stay up to date, it’s worth:

• Checking guidance from government and your local council

• Keeping an eye on landlord associations and sector news

• Reviewing your properties periodically against current standards, not just those that applied ten years ago
  

When to ask for help

If you’re unsure whether a property really meets current expectations – particularly around damp, mould, hazards, electrical safety or energy performance – that’s exactly the time to bring in someone like me.

A Property Health & Compliance Review gives you:

• A clear view of where you stand now

• A practical list of actions to bring the property up to a reasonable standard

• A baseline you can build on over time
  

Conclusion: A Practical Way to Stay Compliant in Devon & Cornwall

Being a landlord in Devon or Cornwall carries real responsibilities – but you don’t have to carry them blindly.

By:

• Understanding your core legal duties

• Carrying out sensible checks

• Keeping good records

• And getting an independent, joined-up view of property health from time to time

…you greatly reduce the risk of nasty surprises, disputes and enforcement action.

If you’d like an experienced, independent eye on your rental in Devon or Cornwall, I’d be happy to help.

Ready to get a clearer picture of your property’s health and compliance?Get in touch to book a Property Health & Compliance Review and take a proactive step towards safer, healthier, easier-to-manage homes.