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Bettesworth Construction
building safety

What to Ask a Landlord or Housing Provider About Building Safety

Ask for current safety records, confirm alarms and escape routes, and find out who handles repairs and building-wide concerns.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 4 min read
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Ask what safety checks have been completed, request the relevant records, and find out who is responsible for fixing problems. If you rent in England, some checks—such as annual gas safety checks in private rented homes—have specific legal requirements. Rules elsewhere, and duties in shared buildings, can differ.

Start with the records and the person responsible

Ask the landlord or housing provider to identify the safety checks that apply to your home, when they were completed, and how you can see the records. For each document, check its date, who carried out the inspection, what part of the building it covers, whether it lists faults or remedial work, and who is responsible for follow-up. These are practical ways to assess the evidence, not a formal government rating system.

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In England, GOV.UK says: “Your landlord must keep the property you live in safe and free from health hazards.” The specific duties depend on the type of home, tenancy and building arrangements. If you live outside England, check with your local housing authority or tenant-advice service for the rules that apply where you live.

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Questions to ask before moving in—or now

Gas appliances and flues

  • “When was each supplied gas appliance and flue last checked, and can I have the current gas safety record?”
  • “Were any faults found, and has all required remedial work been completed?”

For private renting in England, the landlord must arrange a gas safety check every year through a Gas Safe registered engineer. GOV.UK says the record must be provided before a tenant moves in or within 28 days of a check, as applicable; the Health and Safety Executive also explains these delivery timeframes. See the GOV.UK guide to a landlord’s safety responsibilities and the HSE’s gas safety information for tenants.

Electrical installation

  • “When was the electrical installation last inspected, and who carried out the inspection?”
  • “Can I see the report and evidence that any work it identified has been completed?”

Ask whether the report covers your home or a shared system, and whether any work remains outstanding. GOV.UK’s tenant guidance describes periodic inspection and provision of a report in England; requirements and schedules vary by jurisdiction and housing arrangement. See GOV.UK’s How to rent a safe home guide.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

  • “Which smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed, and where are they?”
  • “When were they last tested, and who should I contact if one fails?”

Confirm that alarms are present in the locations required for your home and that there is a clear route for reporting a fault. England guidance sets smoke-alarm requirements and requires carbon monoxide alarms in specified circumstances; guidance for rented accommodation also says landlords should test required alarms on the first day of a tenancy. Which rules apply depends on the dwelling. See GOV.UK’s landlord safety responsibilities and GOV.UK’s fire safety guidance for shared or rented accommodation.

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Fire plan, escape routes and shared areas

  • “What should I do if there is a fire, and what are the escape routes from my home?”
  • “Who keeps escape routes clear and maintains shared areas and fire doors?”
  • “Who manages building-wide fire safety, and how can residents raise a concern about shared parts?”

In the private-renting context in England, landlords must ensure access to escape routes. In a shared building, the landlord or housing provider may need to identify the building manager and explain how shared-area concerns are handled. Do not assume every resident has the same access to every building record. GOV.UK has separate fire safety advice for tenants and residents.

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Emergency shut-offs

  • “Where can I turn off the gas and water supply in an emergency?”
  • “Who should I call about an urgent leak or another immediate hazard?”

Make sure you know where the controls are and whether you can safely reach them. GOV.UK’s tenant guide specifically recommends asking where the gas or water can be switched off.

Reporting hazards and confirming repairs

  • “How do I report a safety problem, and what should I do if it is urgent?”
  • “How will you tell me when repairs are complete?”

Report concerns in writing and keep a copy of your message and any reply. If the problem persists, contact the appropriate local authority or housing advice service for guidance on next steps. GOV.UK recommends reporting health and safety issues and keeping written records in its tenant guide to renting a safe home.

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How to judge the answers

A useful response identifies a document or responsible person, rather than offering only general reassurance. For each check, look for the date, the inspector’s qualification where relevant, the findings and any follow-up work. Confirm that the record relates to your dwelling or the relevant shared system. If the provider says work is complete, ask what evidence confirms that and who you should contact if the hazard returns.

GOV.UK’s fire guidance says people are “around 8 times more likely to die in a fire in the home if there are no working smoke alarms.” The guidance does not identify the original study or its year, so treat this as a statistic reported by GOV.UK rather than an independently verified study finding.

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