Landlords urged to comply with electrical safety regulation or risk fines!!
Existing private tenancies need to comply with electrical safety standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 by 1st April 2021or face fines of up to £30,000.
The regulations, which were first introduced in June 2020, aim to ensure all electrical wiring and fixed electrical installations are signed off by a qualified electrician including wiring, sockets, fuse box and other fixed electrical parts.
Research led by ARLA Propertymark found that half (50%) of letting agents surveyed in September 2020 had more than 60 tenancies that will require every fixed electrical installation at the property to be inspected and tested by April this year.
Helen Hollingsworth, partner at Bramleys, said: “Suppose a private tenant has the right to occupy your property as their only or primary residence and pays the rent; in that case, the new regulations apply to you, including assured shorthold tenancies and licences to occupy.
“Exceptions include those on a long lease of seven years or more, social housing, lodgers, student halls, hostels, care homes, hospitals and hospices, and other accommodation relating to healthcare provisions.
“If a report highlights any issues, the landlord will have to remedy the problem within 28 days, or potentially face a fine of up to £30,000”.
Landlords must give a copy of all reports and documentation of any remedial or further investigative work to the tenant and local authorities.
In addition to ensuring national standards, set out in the 18th edition of the ‘Wiring Regulations’, for electrical safety to be met, landlords of privately rented accommodation must make sure all electrical installations in their properties are inspected and tested every five years.
With the above in mind, Bramleys is implementing EICR reports for all its managed properties.