Private rented property standards guidance
Stairs, landing and hallway standards
- All Staircases must be in sound secure condition with no uneven treads or risers
- Complete with a Handrail either side of the staircase and must extend the full length of the steps.
- The handrail must be secured to the wall or secured to the balusters and top and bottom newel posts where fitted.
- The handrail must be sited between 900 to 1000mm, measured from the top of the handrail to the pitch line of the floor.
- The handrail must be shaped so that it is easy to grasp
- Treads and risers to each staircase must be even and suitably sized.
- All landing guarding must be in sound secure condition
- The guarding must be provided on any open side of the landing area to prevent falling from the landing.
- The guardrail height should be between 900mm and 1000mm measured to the top of the handrail from the floor. This must be strong enough to support the weight of people leaning against it and not be constructed of horizontal laths to discourage children climbing on it.
- There must be no openings to the guarding which would allow a 100mm sphere to pass through.
- All staircases, landings and hallways must have suitable lighting points and switching (two-way switching must be fitted to the top and foot of each staircase). This is not a requirement where the stairs are located within a room which will have its own lighting point. (for example, two to three steps in a kitchen)