You are required to adhere to the new electrical safety rules for your electrical installations as a landlord in the United Kingdom.
From July 2020, they will apply to new tenancies and existing tenancies starting in April 2021.
Those who do not follow these rules will be fined or have their insurance claims canceled.
Landlords should conduct a safety check every five years or according to the previous report and obtain an Electrical Safety Certificate (EICR) at that time.
If they do not comply, tenants’ lives are put at risk due to compromises on the safety of their electrical installations.
As a result of surveys that showed most fires in the UK were caused by faulty electrical devices and wires, new rules have emerged.
Regular inspections can help avert accidents caused by fire.
Wiring defects, faulty devices, or lack of earthing can be found through regular inspections so steps can be taken to rectify them before an accident occurs…
Periodic electrical safety checks can prevent property damage, injury, and monetary loss for both landlords and tenants.
The rules to be observed by landlords for electrical safety
As a landlord, you need to keep in mind the following regulations:
At the start of a tenancy, all electrical equipment and installations on your property must be in good working order and safe to use throughout the full duration of the agreement.
The qualified electrician should inspect all wiring, sockets, light fixtures, fuse boxes, and permanently installed appliances in the home.
An EICR is required once every five years or depends on the condition of the installation from a competent electrician.
Only an HMO with an Electrical Check is required by law to have an electrical check every five years
After completing a safety test, you will be given an Electrical Safety Certificate. This certificate is valid for five years or depending on installation condition, after which you must get a new one.
You are also required to install a smoke alarm on every floor of your property and make sure it is in working condition before the tenancy starts.
If any rooms in your property have open wood fires, they must also have carbon monoxide alarms installed.
Before the tenant takes occupancy of the property, he must be given a copy of the certificate.
The 28-day period starts when the test is done.
You must maintain a copy of the certificate on hand in case of demand from authorities.
Steps to be taken after getting EICR
The landlord is obligated to take the following actions after getting the Electrical Safety Certificate:
If issues are discovered during the inspection, the landlord must have them corrected by a professional electrician within 28 days.
The landlord is required to provide a written confirmation stating that the necessary repairs have been completed.
With 28 days of the repairs
What the local authorities are authorized to do
The regulations give the local authorities the following rights:
The landlord should provide a copy of the EICR to local authorities within seven days of their request.
If emergency repairs are necessary, the authorities can notify the landlord.
The duty is of the landlord to carry out any necessary action within 28 days of receiving notification
Some additional electrical safety recommendations
In addition to the above rules, these recommendations will ensure tenants are not at risk:
Tenants must notify their landlords about any electrical concerns they identify during their tenancy.
The property should have adequate RCD protection, and an RCD should be installed before each new contract.
Before each new term, the landlord must conduct a visual inspection and obtain an EICR.
Even minor repairs should be done by a professional electrician with the help of an Electrical Safety Certificate.
The EICR will prevent landlords from paying hefty fines and suffering financial losses due to legal actions taken by tenants.
