Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector
December 15, 2020
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 1 June 2020 and requires five-yearly inspections of electrical installations and inspection reports to be supplied to tenants.
The regulations applied to new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and apply to existing tenancies from 1 April 2021, including assured shorthold tenancies, houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and licences to occupy. Landlords have to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants, and to their local authority if requested. Breaches of the regulations could result in financial penalties of up to £30,000.
The regulations require that inspection and testing is carried out, by a person who is qualified and competent, on the ‘fixed’ electrical parts of the property, like the wiring, the socket-outlets (plug sockets), the light fittings and the consumer unit (or fuse box). This will include permanently connected equipment such as showers and extractors. The resulting report, usually an Electrical Installation Condition Report or EICR, should explains its outcomes and any investigative or remedial work required.
Landlords must then supply a copy of the ECIR report to their tenant within 28 days of the inspection. If a local authority requests it, landlords must supply them with a copy of the report within 7 days of receiving the request.
If the report requires remedial work or further investigation, landlords must provide written confirmation that the work has been carried out to their tenant and to the local authority within 28 days of completing the work.
Landlords must retain a copy of the report to give to the inspector and tester who will undertake the next inspection and test.
Further guidance on the regulations can be found on the gov.co.uk website.
