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Electrical Safety Certificates for Landlords
New Legislation
‘The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020’ came into effect from 1st June 2020. It is commonly known as the ‘Private Rented Sector Electric Check Legislation’ or ‘PRS Legislation’.
Prior to the 1st June 2020, the only requirement a Landlord had for electrical safety, was that the properties they rented out had to be electrically safe. Being electrically safe was a grey area as it was not defined anywhere, and no standard was cited as being the requirement to work to.
Taking the need to ensure that tenants are safe in the properties they rent, the new PRS Legislation gives clear requirements for Landlords to understand their responsibilities. This also includes what penalties they may face financially from either neglecting to adhere to the new PRS Legislation inspection and testing requirements laid down by it, or failing to adequately repair or replace ant deficiencies highlighted by any such inspections and tests.
What do the PRS Regulations 2020 require?
Landlords of privately rented accommodation must:
- Ensure national standards for electrical safety are met. These are set out in the 18th edition of the ‘Wiring Regulations’, which are published as British Standard 7671.
- Ensure the electrical installations in their rented properties are inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at an interval of at least every 5 years.
- Obtain a report from the person conducting the inspection and test which gives the results and sets a date for the next inspection and test.
- Supply a copy of this report to the existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection and test.
- Supply a copy of this report to a new tenant before they occupy the premises.
- Supply a copy of this report to any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request for the report.
- Supply the local authority with a copy of this report within 7 days of receiving a request for a copy.
- Retain a copy of the report to give to the inspector and tester who will undertake the next inspection and test.
- Where the report shows that remedial or further investigative work is necessary, complete this work within 28 days or any shorter period if specified as necessary in the report.
- Supply written confirmation of the completion of the remedial works from the electrician to the tenant and the local authority within 28 days of completion of the works.
The only acceptable electrical safety check will be the EICR which is the Electrical Installation Condition Report.
Who is responsible for organising an EICR
(Electrical Installation Condition Report)?
The Landlord of the property is responsible for organising the inspection and testing of the electrical installation before and during the tenancy at regular intervals, up to a maximum frequency of 5 years.
The standards that should be met are set out in the 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations therefore only qualified electricians should be used to carry out the EICR.
Any recommendations from the EICR to repair, replace, rectify or further investigate must be carried out within 28 days of the date of the report for potentially dangerous findings, or less if defined in the report by the inspector if they highlight an immediately dangerous finding
The various coding for faults may be found in the Electrical Remedial Repairs Section of this website.
All of our electricians are qualified to carry out the EICR and if necessary complete the remedial repairs necessary to ensure that your property remains safe and compliant.
Contact us using the General Enquiries section at the bottom of this page or call us on 01953 885000 to get a quote.
Which premises, dwellings and installations are covered and which are exempt?
Not all residential or private dwellings are covered by the new PRS Legislation. Properties that are exempt from these particular requirements are:
- Private registered provider of social housing
- Shared accommodation with the Landlord or Landlord’s family
- Long leases of 7 years or more: (This cannot be claimed if the tenancy can be terminated by either party before the end of 7 years from the commencement of the tenancy term)
- Student halls of residence
- Hostels and refuges
- Care homes
- Hospitals and hospices
- Other accommodation relating to healthcare provision
All other private dwellings rented are subject to the new requirements.
Housing for Multiple Occupancy
The list of exempt properties falls under the original legislation for Housing for Multiple Occupancy or HMO for landlords that are renting out multiple occupancy flats such as student accommodation or professional house shares, they need to abide by all of the obligations listed below.
- Make sure that electrical installations throughout the property are safe, secure, and up to British Standards, before allowing any tenants to move in.
- Follow up on the initial inspections of the electrical installation work by regularly checking the making sure they remain secure, safe and well maintained throughout the tenants stay
- Ensure that each electrical appliance provided in the property is safe and fit for use. This can be as little as ensuring the appliance has the CE mark that indicated it meets European Laws. However, a full PAT test would be much more appropriate and would also support any potential insurance claims.
- Make sure that the property is periodically inspected, by a registered and qualified electrician, every 5 years.
To meet the HMO obligations we recommend:
- A registered, qualified, professional electrician should implement a visual inspection of the property every time a tenant moves out of their room in a HMO.
- That suitable RCD protection is in place
- Landlords should only ever use a qualified, professional and registered electrician to implement electrical work, otherwise they could be breaking the law and risking the lives of the tenants
So if you are a Landlord and electrical safety and obligations are on your mind, we can take the strain and get your property safe and compliant
Contact CGE today. 01953 885000.
