{"id":27078,"date":"2025-07-21T08:40:47","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T08:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/?p=27078"},"modified":"2025-07-21T08:40:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T08:40:47","slug":"statutory-testing-what-is-required-when-i-re-let-my-vacant-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/news\/statutory-testing-what-is-required-when-i-re-let-my-vacant-property\/","title":{"rendered":"Statutory Testing \u2013 What Is Required When I Re-Let My Vacant Property"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Statutory testing, often referred to as\u00a0<strong>Landlord Safety Checks<\/strong>, involves carrying out regulated inspections to confirm that a rental property is safe and compliant before tenants move in. These tests cover key systems such as gas, electricity and water, and must be performed by qualified professionals in accordance with legal and industry standards.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re preparing to re-let a vacant property, completing all necessary tests during the void period is not only more practical but also helps prevent legal or safety issues later on.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Landlords are legally required to complete key safety checks before re-letting a property, including gas, electrical and water systems<\/li>\n<li>The main statutory tests include GasSafe certification, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/news\/eicr-do-i-need-an-eicr-for-my-void-property\/\">EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)<\/a>, Legionella risk assessment and PAT testing<\/li>\n<li>Completing these tests while the property is vacant allows for easier access, minimal disruption, and full compliance before new tenants move in<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2><strong>Which Tests Are Required?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The exact testing required depends on the\u00a0<strong>type of property<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>its usage<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>when the last inspection was carried out<\/strong>. However, the most common statutory tests include:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Gas Safety Check (CP12)<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>A legal requirement for all rented properties with gas appliances. A GasSafe-registered engineer must inspect boilers, cookers, and pipework annually. You must provide a copy of the certificate to new tenants before they move in.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>Landlords must ensure that a valid EICR is in place at the start of every new tenancy or at least every five years. This test checks for damage, wear, or unsafe wiring across the fixed electrical system.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Legionella Risk Assessment<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>Landlords are responsible for assessing the risk of Legionella bacteria in water systems, especially in properties that have been empty for a period of time. While there is no legal requirement for routine testing in most cases, a risk assessment should be documented and updated if conditions change.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>While not legally mandatory, PAT testing is strongly advised if you provide any electrical appliances. It ensures items like kettles, toasters or lamps are safe to use and can protect both tenants and your legal liability.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Why Carry Out Testing During the Void?<\/h2>\n<p>The void period is the\u00a0<strong>ideal time to complete statutory testing<\/strong>. With no tenants in the property, professionals have full access to carry out thorough inspections without disruption. It also allows time to make any necessary repairs or upgrades before handing the property over to new occupants.<\/p>\n<p>By ensuring all certificates are up to date and hazards are addressed in advance, you demonstrate good practice, reduce risk and meet your legal obligations as a landlord.<\/p>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26412\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax.webp\" alt=\"how long can a property be empty for before paying council tax\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax.webp 1920w, https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax-1536x1152.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax-800x600.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax-250x188.webp 250w, https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax-80x60.webp 80w, https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax-700x525.webp 700w, https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax-500x375.webp 500w, https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/how-long-can-a-property-be-empty-for-before-paying-council-tax-400x300.webp 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\n<h2>FAQs<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Do I need to redo all tests before every new tenancy?<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>Not necessarily. Gas safety checks are annual, while EICRs are valid for five years. However, it\u2019s essential to check the expiry dates and ensure certificates are valid before a new tenant moves in.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who is responsible for arranging statutory testing in HMOs?<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>The landlord or managing agent is responsible for ensuring all legal safety checks are completed and documented.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do I prove compliance?<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>Keep clear records of all certificates and inspection reports. Copies of GasSafe and EICR certificates should be given to tenants and may be requested by local authorities or insurers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What happens if I fail to complete statutory testing?<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>You may face enforcement action, fines, or invalid insurance if a tenant is harmed due to non-compliance. In serious cases, it could lead to prosecution.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re preparing to re-let a vacant property and want to make sure everything is in place, Clearway can help. From vacant property security to access facilitation and safety compliance support, we\u2019ll help you get everything ready \u2014 safely, efficiently and in line with regulations. Contact us today to schedule a site survey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Statutory testing, often referred to as\u00a0Landlord Safety Checks, involves carrying out regulated inspections to confirm that a rental property is safe and compliant before tenants move in. These tests cover key systems such as gas, electricity and water, and must be performed by qualified professionals in accordance with legal and industry standards. If you&#8217;re preparing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":24791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"area":[],"class_list":["post-27078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Statutory Testing \u2013 What Is Required When I Re-Let My Vacant Property<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Statutory Testing \u2013 What Is Required When I Re-Let My Vacant Property - Read the full story here at Clearway - leaders in property protection - securing tomorrow today.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/news\/statutory-testing-what-is-required-when-i-re-let-my-vacant-property\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Statutory Testing \u2013 What Is Required When I Re-Let My Vacant Property\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Statutory Testing \u2013 What Is Required When I Re-Let My Vacant Property - 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