Landlords and their agents must maintain up to date electrical installation inspection and testing for private rental properties. These requirements have been in place for five years now.
That’s why we’ve been busy renewing Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) for so many rental properties recently.
What private landlords must do to maintain electrical safety
Every fixed electrical installation in a privately rented property requires inspection and testing at least every five years.
The Regulations, which include houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), say landlords must give a copy of the report to their tenants within 28 days and keep a copy themselves. They must also provide the report to whoever carries out the next inspection.
Other requirements:
Your local housing authority can ask you for a copy of the report which you must provide within seven days.
A new tenant can ask you for a copy of the last report before moving in.
Prospective tenants can also ask for a copy, which you must provide within 28 days.
Local housing authorities enforce these electrical safety rules. If they think you haven’t met your obligations, they can serve a notice for remedial action or make repairs themselves. Each breach can lead to a penalty of up to £30,000.
Who is a ‘qualified person’?
A ‘qualified person’ must carry out the inspection and testing. They must be competent to do this and make any further investigations or repairs to meet electrical safety standards.
Putting things right
If your inspection highlights existing or potential faults you have two options as a landlord. You must either investigate it further or repair it within 28 days, or sooner, if required in the report.
Following further investigations or repairs, you must keep written confirmation:
of the completed work
that installations now meet electrical safety standards
of requirements for further work.
This process is only complete when the property meets the standards.
You must give each tenant confirmation of the completed work within 28 days, along with the original report.
If you have any concerns about electrical safety in your private rented property, please get in touch.
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