Property Safety Services in Reading
ChecksSorted does not carry out property safety checks itself. We are starting in Reading and, where we can, pass your enquiry to a participating independent professional, who gives the quote and does the work. Fill in the quote form with the service and the property's postcode to start.
Request a quoteWhich property safety services can I arrange in Reading?
You can arrange these five services, and each has its own page for Reading:
Our services page compares them in one place- 01 EPC in Reading Needed when a home or business premises is sold or let.
- 02 EICR in Reading The electrical report landlords need at least every 5 years.
- 03 Gas safety certificate in Reading The yearly check for landlords.
- 04 Fire risk assessment in Reading For business premises, shared areas of flats and HMOs.
- 05 Fire alarm servicing in Reading For fire alarm systems in business premises, flats and HMOs.
Do I need an HMO licence in Reading?
It depends, and the council decides. The council's licensing page states "From 1 March 2026 an additional licensing scheme is in force across the whole borough." It adds that this "requires the landlords of 3-4 person HMOs that are not already subject to mandatory licensing to apply for a licence." and notes "Designations have not yet been made for the selective licensing schemes". Ask the council whether your property needs a licence.
What do landlords in Reading need to know?
A landlord in Reading needs a yearly gas safety check, an EICR every 5 years and smoke detection on each storey, as Reading Borough Council sets out, and an EPC, which its EPC page covers. For shared areas of flats, GOV.UK adds a fire risk assessment. The table shows each check and where the wording comes from:
| Check | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gas safety | A registered engineer does an annual gas safety check on each appliance and flue, and tenants get a copy of the record before they move in or within 28 days of the check. | Council safety responsibilities |
| Electrical safety | An EICR every 5 years, available to the tenant. | Council safety responsibilities |
| Fire alarms | Smoke detection must be present on each storey of any rented property. The council says that is not enough for an HMO, where an alarm system will quickly alert occupants to a fire that starts anywhere in the property. | Council safety responsibilities |
| Energy performance | A landlord must commission and obtain an EPC unless one is already available. A property rated F or G must be brought up to E, or £3500 spent on suitable improvements to qualify for an exemption. | Council EPC |
| Shared areas of flats and business premises | The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises and review it regularly. For common or shared areas, that is the landlord, freeholder or managing agent. | GOV.UK fire safety |