A new online tool has been launched, aimed at making rented homes safe and legally compliant.

The ‘safe and secure’ toolkit, which features a clickable house icon, has been launched by the Residential Landlords Association.

Advice includes how best to ensure gas, electrical and fire safety, as well as information on how to prevent damp and mould, improving the energy efficiency of a property and how to prevent trips and falls around the house.

Each part of the house, when clicked on, provides details of the legal requirements for a landlord and information on the likely cost of fitting safety features such as window safety locks, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire alarms.

It also includes a simple, easy to understand checklist about features a landlord should check regularly.

According to the most recent English Housing Survey, 16% of private rented sector properties have at least one hazard that means the home fails the minimum safety standards expected of them.

Alan Ward, chairman of the RLA, said: “Providing a safe, legal and secure home should be the first duty of any landlord to their tenant.

“Whilst the vast majority of homes to rent meet the legal standards required of them, we must do all we can to support landlords to address hazards quickly when they arise.

“The reality is that there are a large number of legal requirements expected of rented homes.

“The problem is not a lack of law but of enforcing these requirements and ensuring landlords understand the complexities of renting homes out.”

The toolkit is here