It is a condition of your HMO licence to supply the following certificates to the Local Authority when requested.

Annual - Gas Safety Certificate

If gas is supplied to the house, the licence holder is required to produce to Bath and North East Somerset Council a copy of the annual gas safety certificate. A copy will be requested each year.

Annual - Fire Alarm / Emergency Lighting Testing Certificate

The licence holder is required to ensure that smoke alarms are installed in the house and to keep them in proper working order. The licence holder is required to supply to Bath and North East Somerset Council, on demand, a declaration as to the condition and positioning of such alarms (A satisfactory certificate of inspection and testing under British Standard 5839 will be required). A copy of the testing certificate will be requested each year. 

5 Yearly - Electrical Safety Certificate

A copy of the Periodic Electrical Installation report is required when the current certificate has expired, or if there is no current certificate within 2 months of the date of licence. Please note the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations state the electrical installation must be tested even if the electrician has recommended the installation be tested in 10 years.

The system must have LD2 coverage and audibility as specified in with BS5839: Part 6. Sound levels at bedhead to be documented and a copy sent in.

Important information about testing of fire alarm and emergency lighting systems

Fire alarms systems must be tested and maintained in accordance with British Standard 5839. Inspections to be undertaken by a competent person.

For a Grade A system (a system with a control panel), the system must be inspected and tested every six months.

For a Grade D system (hard wired interlinked alarms) the system must be inspected annually by a competent person.

All fire alarm systems should be tested weekly to ensure the system is operating correctly and results recorded in a log book.

Emergency lighting should be tested and maintained in accordance with British Standard 5266. A certificate of inspection and testing is required annually.

Please note for a fire alarm and emergency lighting system we do request that the certificate states the type of system (e.g. LD2 / 3 hour non maintained system).

Alternatively, if there is no certification available a letter from an electrician on headed paper will suffice with the letter stating the fire alarm has been tested in accordance with BS5839:6: 2004 with the type of system and the date of test. 

If certificates have not already been received letters will be sent to Licence Holders requesting copies.   Please ensure that certificates are marked for the attention of the Housing Standards Team.

It is appreciated that if a property is accredited, you may already have been asked for the same certificates and we will endeavour not to duplicate work as long as the certificates are in date and valid.

Failure to comply with the conditions of your licence is an offence under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 section 72(3).   A person who commits this offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000).  

If you fail to send in certificates within a reasonable time frame when asked this will be recorded as a breach of your licence conditions  If the Council has sent 3 letters requesting a certificate and if the certificate has still not been received this will automatically be recorded as a breach. 

This information can be made available in a range of languages, large print, Braille, on tape, electronic and accessible formats.  Contact the Information Officer on 01225 477983, Minicom 01225 477043 or email information_officer@bathnes.gov.uk