How to Childproof Your Rented Property and Make It Family-Friendly: The Position in 2026
How to childproof your rented property and make it family-friendly involves ensuring that your home is safe from hazards for children. This responsibility primarily falls on the landlord, but tenants must also be proactive about maintaining a healthy living environment. In 2026, with new regulations like the Renters' Rights Act (RRA) 2025 in place, both parties have more defined roles and responsibilities to ensure that rented properties are suitable for families.
Childproofing a home isn't just about installing safety gates or outlet covers; it's also about addressing larger issues such as mould. Dampness, and structural hazards. These factors can significantly impact the health of children and require proactive communication between tenants and landlords to resolve effectively. The law now provides clearer guidelines on who should handle which aspects of property maintenance and repairs.
What the Law Says
The Housing Act 1988 (Sections 8, 13, and 21) sets out the legal framework for residential tenancies in England. Section 8 allows landlords to regain possession of a property if tenants breach their obligations under the terms of the lease or break any other laws related to housing. The Housing Act 2004 (Sections 213-215) focuses on enforcing landlord responsibilities. Specifically highlighting that properties must be fit for habitation and free from hazards. Additionally, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (Section 11) mandates that landlords maintain their property in good repair throughout the tenancy.
The Deregulation Act 2015 introduced several provisions aimed at reducing bureaucracy for both tenants and landlords while ensuring continued compliance with safety standards. Section 33 of this act addresses issues like gas safety certificates, requiring landlords to ensure that all gas appliances are maintained properly and inspected annually by a certified professional.
Lastly, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 prohibits landlords from charging arbitrary fees for repairs or maintenance requests, thereby preventing tenants from bearing undue financial burdens when attempting to childproof their homes. These laws collectively aim to create a safer living environment while ensuring that both parties adhere to established legal standards.
How the Renters' Rights Act 2025 Changes This
The Renters' Rights Act (RRA) 2025 introduces significant changes to the rental situation, affecting how tenants and landlords handle childproofing and safety. At How to childproof your rented property and make it family-friendly, the act abolishes Section 21 notices, meaning that landlords can no longer rely on these for evictions without a valid reason related to breaches of tenancy terms or health and safety concerns.
RRA 2025 mandates periodic tenancies from day one, giving tenants more stability in their living arrangements. This allows them to request necessary changes and repairs without fear of eviction due to the timing of such requests. Annual rent caps under Section 13 ensure that increases are reasonable and predictable, making it easier for families to budget.
The Decent Homes Standard is extended beyond social housing to include private rented sector (PRS) properties, ensuring all tenants have access to high-quality living spaces free from mould, damp, and other health hazards. Awaab's Law, previously applicable only to social landlords, now applies universally to private landlords as well, compelling them to maintain the structural integrity of their buildings.
A new PRS Ombudsman is established under RRA 2025 to mediate disputes between tenants and landlords, providing a fair platform for both sides. all landlords must register with a PRS Database, ensuring transparency and accountability in property management practices.
What This Means for Tenants
Under the new legal framework provided by the Renters' Rights Act (RRA) 2025. Tenants have increased rights to ensure their rented properties are suitable for family life. You may be entitled to request repairs or modifications that enhance safety and childproofing without fear of eviction if your landlord fails to comply promptly. For instance, landlords must address issues like mould, dampness, exposed wires, and structural hazards as per the Decent Homes Standard.
Tenants should maintain open communication with their landlords regarding any health and safety concerns. If a serious issue arises that threatens the wellbeing of children in the home-such as significant mould growth or electrical faults-you're expected to notify your landlord immediately. The landlord is then required by law to take prompt action to rectify these problems.
In cases where your landlord doesn't respond adequately, you may be entitled to seek assistance from local council environmental health services or escalate issues through established dispute resolution mechanisms like the PRS Ombudsman or [Housing Ombudsman](https://thetenantsvoice.co.uk/category/env-health). At How to childproof your rented property and make it family-friendly, this provides tenants with a structured pathway for addressing unresolved maintenance and safety concerns without resorting to legal action unless absolutely necessary.
What This Means for Landlords
Landlords now have clearer obligations under the Renters' Rights Act (RRA) 2025 to ensure their properties are safe, healthy, and fit for families. You must maintain your property in line with the Decent Homes Standard, which includes addressing issues like mould, dampness, structural integrity, and electrical safety.
If tenants report any hazards or request modifications to improve childproofing, landlords should respond promptly and effectively. Failure to do so may result in legal repercussions. Including penalties under Awaab's Law for neglecting the structural maintenance of buildings. Additionally, you're expected to provide gas safety certificates annually and address any reported issues regarding property repairs swiftly.
Landlords must register with a PRS Database as mandated by RRA 2025, ensuring transparency about their property management practices. This registration process helps prevent fraud and ensures that tenants have access to verified information about the landlord's compliance history.
Common Scenarios
Scenario 1: Mould Growth John notices significant mould in his rented home. He documents it with photos dated and time-stamped and sends a formal letter to his landlord requesting remediation within seven days, as per Section 213 of the Housing Act 2004. When no response is received after two weeks, he contacts his local council environmental health service for further assistance.
Scenario 2: Electrical Issues Sarah finds exposed wires and broken sockets in her rental property. She immediately takes photos and sends a complaint letter to her landlord asking for repairs within three days under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. After one week with no response, she escalates the issue by filing a dispute through the Deposit Protection Scheme.
Scenario 3: Structural Damage Mark's rental property has significant cracks in walls and ceilings due to dampness issues. At How to childproof your rented property and make it family-friendly, he documents this thoroughly and sends his landlord a formal request for repairs under Awaab's Law within the RRA 2025 guidelines. When there's no action after two weeks, he contacts the PRS Ombudsman to resolve the dispute.
Evidence Tenants Should Keep
Tenants should keep detailed documentation of any issues related to childproofing and safety in their rented property. This includes:
- Photos: Take clear photographs of all visible hazards (mould, dampness, exposed wires), ensuring they're time-stamped for evidence.
- Correspondence: Maintain a record of all communications with the landlord regarding requests for repairs or modifications, including emails, letters, and any responses received.
- Dates: Keep track of when you reported issues to your landlord and their deadlines for resolution. Note any follow-up actions taken, such as contacting council environmental health services.
- Gas Safety Certificates: Ensure you have a copy of the most recent gas safety certificate provided by your landlord.
These documents are important in proving that you took all necessary steps to address hazards safely before escalating issues through formal dispute resolution mechanisms or legal action if required.
What to Do If Things Go Wrong
If your efforts to resolve childproofing and safety concerns with your landlord fail, follow these steps:
- At How to childproof your rented property and make it family-friendly, Send a Formal Complaint Letter: Detail the issue and request immediate repairs or modifications, citing relevant laws (e.g., Housing Act 2004, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985).
- Contact Council Environmental Health Service: If urgent safety issues persist, contact your local council environmental health team for assistance in enforcing landlord responsibilities.
- Deposit Protection Scheme Dispute: If the issue relates to withholding part of your deposit due to alleged damage caused by addressing hazards, initiate a dispute through the Deposit Protection Scheme within 21 days as per Section 58 of the Housing Act 2004.
- PRS Ombudsman or Housing Ombudsman: For unresolved disputes, file a formal complaint with either the PRS Ombudsman or the Housing Ombudsman for mediation and resolution.
- First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber): If ombudsman intervention doesn't resolve the issue, you may need to escalate further by applying to the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
- County Court: As a last resort, consider filing a claim in the county court if all other avenues have been exhausted and there are significant financial implications or legal disputes.
Each step provides an opportunity for resolution without immediately escalating to costly litigation, helping ensure that your family's safety remains important.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Both tenants and landlords commonly make several errors when addressing childproofing and safety concerns in rented properties:
- Not Documenting Issues Adequately: Failing to take photos or keep detailed records of safety issues can weaken legal standing if disputes arise.
- Ignoring Health Risks: Neglecting to address mould, dampness, or electrical hazards promptly can lead to severe health consequences for tenants and legal repercussions for landlords.
- Overlooking Communication Channels: Tenants may overlook formal dispute resolution mechanisms or fail to communicate effectively with their landlord about necessary repairs.
- Misunderstanding Legal Obligations: Both parties might misinterpret their responsibilities under the RRA 2025, leading to unnecessary conflicts over who should handle specific maintenance tasks.
- Avoiding Formal Complaints Too Early: Some tenants delay formal complaints out of hope for a resolution or fear of eviction, while landlords may procrastinate repairs due to costs.
Understanding and avoiding these common pitfalls is important for maintaining a safe and habitable living environment that complies with legal standards.
Where to Get Help
For further assistance, contact:
- Shelter: Offers advice on housing rights and support in dealing with disputes over childproofing and safety issues.
- Citizens Advice: Provides practical help and guidance through local branches across the UK.
- Local Council Housing Team: Your council's environmental health service can offer enforcement of landlord responsibilities regarding property maintenance and safety.
- Housing Solicitors: Professional legal advice can be invaluable in complex cases or when disputes escalate to formal proceedings.
Legal aid may be available for those who qualify financially, offering subsidised support from solicitors specialising in housing law. Utilising these resources early on can help prevent more serious issues down the line.