The new “Landlord Electrical Regulations” are due to come into force on 1st June 2020, but what does this mean for Landlords and Tenants?
The Landlord Electrical Regulations (formally known as Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Sector (England) Regulations 2020) will see the dawn of mandatory electrical safety inspection and testing in residential rental properties in England, giving Local Authorities power to impose sanctions for non-compliance (including fines of up to £30,000).
Electrical safety inspections
From 1st July 2020, before entering into any new tenancies, the Regulations will impose a mandatory duty on private Landlords to ensure that the electrical installations in their rental properties are inspected and tested. Landlords will also be required to ensure that existing tenants have their rental properties inspected and tested by no later than 1st April 2021. These tests will then need to be repeated every five years.
EICR electrical safety certificate
Landlords will be responsible for ensuring that a competent, registered Electrician carries out the required inspection and testing. The Certificate (EICR) must be provided in advance of: any new tenant taking up residence; within 28 days of being requested by a prospective tenant; and within 28 days of the Landlord receiving it where the tenant is already in occupation.
Landlord duty to check electrical safety
The Regulations also stipulate that where a condition report (EICR) has been obtained, and when a tenant is in occupation, should the report indicate that further investigative or remedial work is required, a further duty is imposed in the Landlord to ensure that this further work is undertaken by a suitably qualified person within 28 days from the date of the report (or less, where specifically detailed within the report).
The properties affected by the Regulations are purely those in the private sector with residential tenancies, and the scope of the Regulations is limited to properties in England.
Properites types that are excluded
There are some types of property which are specifically excluded by the Landlord Electrical Regulations, such as: privately run social housing, licensees / lodgers, long leases in excess of 7 years, Halls of Residence, hostels, refuges, care homes, hospitals, hospices and any other NHS provided accommodation, to name a few of the more prominent ones.
Antrobus Electrical are fully insured, fully qualified, certified and registered on the Electrical Competent Person Scheme. We are based in Leyland in Lancashire, and typically operate around the North West of England. Please contact us by email or call us on 07512 271570 to discuss how we can assist you.
For those outside of the North West, you can find a certified and registered Electrician in your area HERE.
