Private rented property standards guidance
Walls
- All walls must be in a structurally sound and secure condition.
- All walls must have no bowing and must be as level as possible.
- All walls must be free from any type of water ingress, damp, and mould.
- There must not be any cracking or gaps to the structure or surface of the wall.
- Any filled cracks or gaps must be done so using a suitable material and brought to a smooth finish to adjacent surfaces.
- Where the wall meets the ceiling again cracking or gaps must not be present.
- The surface of the wall should be smooth and able to be decorated. There must be no loose sections of wall surface material.
- Where a wall has a correctly applied textured finish coating the requirements to have a smooth level surface are not required.
- Any element attached to the wall (such as a smoke detector or light fitting/switch, electrical socket outlet) must be fixed securely to the wall and in an appropriate manner.
- Textured finish coatings (for example, Artex) should be free from asbestos. If in doubt, then testing of the textured finish must be carried out to confirm it is asbestos free. All should be tested for asbestos content and appropriate action taken. (Visit Asbestos and manufactured mineral fibres (MMF)for further guidance.)
- Polystyrene wall tiles are not permitted. Polystyrene tiles must be removed, and the wall surface made good with either new plaster and or other suitable wall covering.
- Any wall covering (tiles, wallpaper, or panelling) must be securely fixed to the wall.