Electrical Responsibilities for Landlords

From 1st June 2020, private landlords in England and Wales will be required to have the electrical installation in their rental properties checked by a qualified electrician to ensure that they are safe.

• Electrical installations must be inspected and tested prior to the start of a new tenancy from 1st July 2020.

• Checks must be carried out on any existing tenancies by1st April 2021 These checks must then be carried out on a five yearly basis.

• A copy of the most recent electrical safety condition report (EICR) must be provided to both new and retained tenants.

• If the inspection reveals any action that needs to be taken, this remedial work must be carried out within 28 days.

• It must meet British Standard BS 7671, with appropriate certification issued. As the landlord, you are responsible for making sure that the person who completes the check is suitably competent.

• Using an electrician or firm that is a member of an accredited registration scheme operated by a recognised body will give you the confidence that this has been achieved.

Communal areas

A landlord is also responsible for the communal areas of a house, block of flats, or an estate that residents use in common with other tenants, such as:

• Entrance halls and foyers

• Lifts and stairwells

• Corridors. Landings

• Kitchens and bathrooms

• Laundries

• Gymnasiums

• Swimming pools and other leisure facilities

• Parking and refuse areas

• Pathways

• Gardens

The Inspection

A periodic inspection checks the condition of an existing electrical installation against BS 7671, the UK Standard for the safety of electrical installations.

• Tests are also carried out on the installation to check that it is safe.

• After a periodic inspection, you should always be given an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) containing details of the inspection and testing undertaken, the outcomes of the inspection and testing with recommendations as to what remedial action (if any) is required, and a declaration of whether or not the installation is safe for continued use.

• A schedule of circuit details and test results should always be provided as part of the Electrical Installation Condition Report.

• A copy of this schedule should be kept next to the consumer unit (fusebox) for information purposes.

Frequency of periodic inspections

By law, a periodic inspection of the electrical installations in rental properties in England and Wales must be carried out every five years. However, the person compiling the Electrical Installation Condition Report may recommend a shorter interval before the next inspection based upon the findings of the inspection and testing that has been carried out.

When a change of tenancy occurs, the landlord or their representative should always carry out a visual check to confirm that a property is safe to re-let. This check should include confirming that there are no broken or missing switches or sockets, no accessible live parts, no signs of burning on electrical equipment and that any installed RCDs operate when the integral test button is pressed.

We offer electrical testing and inspection to landlords in Newport and surrounding areas.