urgent - legal safety requirements in rented house

[lunavix]

went to look at a house today and there's no bannister going down the stairs. at the top there's a stepped one but going down it there's a wall then nothing just a drop next to maybe the bottom 8 steps. Is this legal?

Also someone mentioned window restraints as te windows are huge old ones that just swing out??

Phone your local council and ask ?

I think the Shelter website gives you all the legal info on rented houses, you can also get email advice from them. No idea about links, but google Shelter.

www.communities.gov.uk/housing/rentingandletting/privaterenting/landlordsrights
try the above link - I let out my house when I moved abroad, and it was quite useful. If you look at what the landlords have to do, then you have some ammunition for asking for changes.

As far as I am aware, I am responsible for having the boiler serviced, and if it was gas, then it would have to be done annually by a specialist. There should also be an electrical survey/certificate for you to see to show that all the wiring is OK. My tenants pay all the bills, I pay for the upkeep of the property, running repairs, replacing windows and doors if necessary etc. I also pay the buildings insurance.

I took off the window restraints at my house as my tenants are older and have no kids. The house I rent in Brussels has no restraints and the windows open outwards. That may be a tenant responsibility, but bear in mind, anything you do to the house has to be approved by the owner, and put right when you leave. Some staircases are designed to have no banisters, so I would think it is legal.

Good luck with finding somewhere.