Repairing standard
53.Part 3 of the Act (at sections 22 to 24) also makes provision to amend the repairing standard for private rented housing in Part 1 of the 2006 Act.
54.Section 22 amends section 13 of the 2006 Act by inserting a subsection (1)(g) which requires that, in order to meet the repairing standard, a privately rented house must have satisfactory provision for giving warning if carbon monoxide is present in a concentration that is hazardous to health. A new section 13(6) of the 2006 Act provides that, in determining whether a house has satisfactory provision for giving warning of carbon monoxide, regard is to be had to both building regulations and guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers.
55.Section 23 inserts a section 13(4A) into the 2006 Act which requires that, in determining whether a house meets the parts of the repairing standard which require that the installations in a privately rented house for the supply of electricity and any electrical appliances provided by the landlord are in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order, regard is to be had to any guidance on electrical safety standards issued by the Scottish Ministers.
56.Section 23 also inserts section 19A into the 2006 Act. New section 19A requires landlords to arrange electrical safety inspections every five years to identify any work needed to meet the repairing standard in relation to installations for the supply of electricity and electrical fixtures, fittings and appliances. An inspection must be carried out before a new tenancy starts, unless there has been an inspection within the previous five years. Section 19A requires landlords to provide copies of inspection reports to tenants. The duty to carry out an inspection is treated as part of the repairing standard for the purposes of applications to the private rented housing panel and for enforcement of the repairing standard by the private rented housing panel.
57.Section 23 also inserts new section 19B into the 2006 Act. Section 19B provides that an inspection carried out for the purposes of section 19A must be carried out be a competent person and specifies information which must be included in the record of the inspection, which must be retained by the landlord for six years. Section 19B also provides that the Scottish Ministers must publish guidance and that, in determining whether someone is a competent person as required by section 19B(1), landlords must have regard to this guidance.
58.Section 24 inserts section 20A into the 2006 Act. Section 20A provides that the Scottish Ministers may amend the provisions of the 2006 Act which set out the repairing standard and the duty of landlords to ensure that privately rented homes meet the repairing standard. Section 24(2) requires that any such regulations are made by the affirmative procedure.
