Stairs and child safety considerations

Landlord Discussion Legal
1

My prospective tenant has a 2 year old child and the flat is on the first floor of a Victorian conversion. Should I provide a stair gate? Which other child safety measures should I consider? This one’s got me worried…

2

stairs have to be safe and windows with safety locks, but not a safety gate . The tenant must “ “childproof “ their home

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3

Thanks Colin. No obvious issues like trip hazards on stairs and I imagine traditional sash windows are childproof. I’ll check to make sure they have a stair gate.

4

Don’t know why I’m feeling so uneasy about this tenancy…

5

there are special locks for sliding sash windows to restrict how far they slide . Do you also own the common area?

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These are the old fashioned heavy, sash windows with the screwable catch. The common area is on the ground floor; my flat is on the first. No, I don’t own the common area (so should not be liable..). Thanks.

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That may not always be the case. You have a duty of care as a landlord and unless you inspect regularly and report any defects to common parts to the freeholder/managing agent promptly, you may be held in breach of that duty.

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Yes, of course. Thanks David.

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See

Good luck

10

@Frank2 are stairs within your property or the communal area?

There’s an interesting blog here What can landlords do to help child-proof their properties? | Red Brick Management

Tbh I would talk to prospective tenant and ask them if there is anything specific they were expecting to want to change to make things safer (and what if anything they have done in their current home). Perhaps discuss after they have visited again with this in mind. After all you and they want the place to be safe for their toddler..

And then send a written note of the conversation so they can confirm its an accurate account. You don’t have to agree to any changes upfront but so long as you and they have agreed expectations on what’s needed entering into the tenancy agreement and it’s documented, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about as it will show you have made efforts to ensure the place is safe. Ultimately you can’t protect children from every possible accident and can’t be held accountable for every way a child can hurt themselves.

Good luck!

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Great! Thanks a lot, David

12

Victorian buildings have little vertical soundproofing, when a child runs up and down it can be a big intrusion to downstairs they grow up quick

You could add a clause to your AST saying about tenants responsibilities for child safety.

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Thanks Candid1. Appreciated.