A series of new landlord electrical safety guidelines are due to come into effect in Dumfries and Galloway.

All private landlords will need to ensure their occupied rented properties have an electrical installation condition report (EICR) from 01 December 2016. The certification ensures the electrical installations in the property are safe.

As part of the scheme, a copy of the EICR report must be provided to the tenant. In addition, if any portable electrical goods are provided as part of the let (fridge, washing machine, lamps etc.) then these also need to be tested every five years for safety under what is known as portable appliance testing (PAT).

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Other new requirements include a smoke detector fitted in the living room, in circulation spaces such as halls and landings and a heat detector must be installed in the kitchen. Smoke detectors must must also have mains detectors and be interlinked.

A carbon monoxide detector must also be installed in any room where a carbon fuel appliance is installed, such as wood/multi fuel stoves, gas and oil boilers, open and gas fires. The detectors can be battery operated and do not need to be hard wired, but should have a sealed unit battery.

Dumfries and Galloway Council said: "Landlords must comply with these requirements which from part of the Repairing Standards set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 and any failures can lead to action by a tenant or the local authority through the Private Rented Housing Panel and where there is a failure to comply, then a landlord's fit and proper status can be reviewed. Removal from the register can have serious consequences."

(LM/CD)