If you are a landlord then there are new electrical regulations that you need to be aware of.
For all existing tenancies, an electrical safety test will need to be carried out by the 1st of April. And from last year, 1st July 2020, for all new tenancies, landlords must make sure that all electrical installations are tested by a qualified electrician before the start of a new tenancy. This ruling applies to all privately rented properties and failure to comply could result in a fine up to £30,000!
What is an electrical safety certificate?
For all landlords that own privately rented properties must test all the electrical installations in their property every five years. Once this has been completed by a qualified electrician, you’ll get a certificate report called an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
So what are the latest electrical regulations?
The regulation listed below applies to all privately rented properties.
1: Electrical inspection once every 5 years
The most important ruling is electrical inspections. All landlords must ensure all of the electrical installations in their commercial and domestic properties are properly tested and inspected by a qualified electrician at least every 5 years at a minimum. Legally you are obliged to give a copy of the testing report to the new or existing tenants and also the local authority if they do ask for it.
Here are the timeframes you’ll need to work towards in order to be fully compliant:
-Existing tenants: Within 28 days of the inspection and test
-New tenants: Before they occupy the property
-Potential tenants: Within 28 days of receiving the request
-Local Authority: withing seven days of receiving the request
2: Meeting the national standards
Landlords must comply with the national standards to ensure that all electrical installations are safe to use. To learn more about the electrical safety standards that are listed in the Wiring Regulations, please visit the Gov.uk website.
3: Completing all electrical work
If there are any defects that are identified in the electrical installations and any parts that do not comply with the current regulations must be resolved within 28 days of the test report. Once the work has been completed, you will need a written confirmation from your electrician to say the work has been carried out successfully.
What do landlords need to do?
The first step is to make sure you have booked a qualified electrician to fully inspect and test all the electrical installations. Once the date is booked in, you will need to prepare your property by being clear on where all the electrical installations are in the property. This is to help the electrician on the day so that they are aware of the locations of the wirings, sockets, light fittings, consumer units etc.
If you are looking for a qualified electrician then we are the team for you. Contact us today to ensure you are 100% compliant. We offer our services across Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.
