Electrical safety is of high importance for landlords. Failure to keep electrical equipment such as fuse boxes, sockets and appliances safe can result in fines, bans and imprisonment.
All landlords in the UK are required to provide gas safety certificates, but the rules around electrical safety are different. In the UK, it’s currently only landlords in Scotland that have to provide regular electrical installation condition reports to tenants. This isn’t part of the rules necessary for landlords in England but experts are predicting that this is likely to change in 2017.
Landlord electrical safety changes
A national estate agent has said that the House and Planning Act 2016 has created the legislative power to pass new rules and regulations in this area. It is believed that this will mean all tenanted properties will soon require an electrical installation check.
It is unknown when such legislation will come into place but landlords have been advised to act before that change to ensure that their properties meet the required standards well in advance of the rules being introduced.
Current electrical obligations for landlords
By law, landlords in England are required to have electrical installation certificates to show that new equipment is safe, but they have no legal requirement to have it regularly inspected.
Obligations include making sure all electrical appliances are safe and have a minimum of a CE marking, along with a duty of care to ensure that electrical installations are safe and maintained throughout. If the property is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), landlords are legally obliged as a landlord to have an electrical inspection and test every five years.
Failure to comply with repair requests for tenants and local councils could result in fines or bans.
Electrical inspection and testing
If you are a landlord and would like an expert opinion about the quality of the electrical wiring in your properties, offices or factories, Eaton Electrical can arrange an inspection to ensure that your wiring is safe and up to date.
Qualified electricians will be at a premium if the changes come into place. Landlords in Leicestershire and beyond can book an electrical inspection and PAT testing of their properties today. Call us on 01509 414 222 or email office@eatononline.co.uk.
