These requirements apply to all business activities in this division.
compliance
Great_Britain
Ongoing
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — general duties
Enforced by:
HSE
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
General duty to protect employees and others affected by the business — rental depots, yards, workshops, valeting/cleaning and the handling of hire goods. Hire businesses also owe duties to customers in the condition and instructions for the goods they let out.
insurance
Great_Britain
Annual
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Enforced by:
HSE
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Required for any business employing at least one person.
registration
Uk
Annual
UK GDPR + Data Protection Act 2018
Enforced by:
ICO
Data Protection Act 2018; UK GDPR (retained EU law)
Rental and leasing businesses process customer personal data — identity and address checks, driving licences, payment and (for consumer hire) creditworthiness data. ICO data protection fee payable unless specifically exempt.
compliance
Great_Britain
Ongoing
Equality Act 2010 — protected characteristics
Enforced by:
EHRC
Equality Act 2010
No discrimination, harassment or victimisation in employment or in the provision of rental/leasing services to the public; reasonable adjustments for disabled customers.
compliance
England_Wales
Ongoing
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Enforced by:
LOCAL_FIRE_AUTHORITY
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The 'responsible person' for rental premises (depots, showrooms, storage and yards) must carry out a fire risk assessment and maintain fire safety arrangements. Devolved: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006.
compliance
Uk
Ongoing
Consumer protection — consumer rights and unfair trading
Enforced by:
TRADING_STANDARDS
Consumer Rights Act 2015; Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
Where the business hires to consumers, hired goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described (Consumer Rights Act 2015), and there must be no misleading actions or omissions about price, deposits or condition. Enforced by Trading Standards / the CMA. The unfair commercial practices regime moved from the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 to Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, commenced 6 April 2025 (the CMA now has direct monetary penalty powers).