Changes to be introduced surrounding landlord electrical inspections in 2020
The “Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020” detail the new requirements for electrical safety checks in rental properties and the expected timescales for their implementation.
In a nutshell, the regulations require that every private rented property has an electrical inspection completed by a suitably qualified person, a minimum of every 5 years. ***There are instances where this timescale may be shorter, such as where the previous inspection has suggested a shorter timeframe due to the condition of the installation
The implementation of the new regulations will be as follows:
New Tenancies – New tenancies must meet the new requirements from July 1st 2020
Existing Tenancies – Existing tenancies must meet the new requirements from April 1st 2021
The regulations also require that:
- Landlords provide a copy of the electrical inspection report to the tenant within 28 days of the inspection (or before the tenancy begins for new tenants)
- Landlords must supply a copy to the local authority within 7 days (if requested to do so)
- Any faults highlighted by the electrical inspection must be remedied within 28 days (or sooner if detailed within the electrical report)
- Written confirmation must be obtained to confirm that any necessary repairs have been completed
Non-compliance with the new regulations will mean the local authority will supply the landlord with an ‘enforcement notice’. If a landlord fails to act upon this, the local authority can enforce it by having the repairs completed (and billing the landlord) or even impose a fine of upto £30,000
Do I Comply? Checklist for private rented properties in January 2020:
- Property must have a working smoke alarm on each habitable floor
- Any electrical appliances (fridges, washing machines or similar) supplied must be visually checked and in good working order (PAT test not required, landlord or agent can visually check)
- Any electrical installation (fixed wiring, sockets, lights) must be checked and in good working order.