Running a rental or leasing business means meeting workplace health and safety duties that every employer shares, then layering on the sector-specific rules for your activity: FCA authorisation for regulated consumer hire, compulsory motor insurance and roadworthiness for vehicle hire, work equipment safety duties for plant and machinery hire, and consumer protection obligations when you hire goods to the public.
Health and safety is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Great Britain and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) in Northern Ireland. The FCA regulates consumer hire UK-wide. Motor insurance is a Great Britain regime with an equivalent duty in Northern Ireland under the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. Consumer protection law applies UK-wide.
What you need to do
Identify the description that best fits your business, then follow the guides in order.
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Every rental or leasing business
Start with the universal workplace duties. Follow "Set up and run a safe rental or leasing business" for your health and safety, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection obligations.
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You hire goods to consumers, rent out vehicles, hire out plant or machinery, or need to meet consumer protection duties
You may need FCA authorisation for consumer hire agreements over 3 months, must insure every hired vehicle, owe PUWER and LOLER duties on hired plant, and must meet consumer rights and unfair trading rules. Follow "Meet your rental and leasing regulatory duties".
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Confirm you have covered everything
Work through the rental and leasing compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations