Did you know that under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, from 1 July 2020 landlords will be required to have property electrics checked at least every 5 years by a properly qualified person. The electrics must meet certain standards and landlords must give their tenants proof of this.
The regulations will apply to new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and existing tenancies from 1 April 2021. Local authorities may impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 on landlords who are in breach of their duties.
As a landlord of privately rented accommodation, this means you must:
- Ensure the electrical wiring, sockets, consumer units (fuse boxes) and other fixed electrical parts in rented homes are inspected and tested every 5 years, or more often than this if the inspector thinks that is necessary
- Meet national electrical safety standards throughout the whole time a tenant is living at your property
- Give your tenant a report that shows the condition of the property’s electrical installations. This must also be provided to the local council if they ask for it
For the Government’s full landlord guidance covers items such as:
- Full details of what the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require
- Which rented properties the regulations apply to
- How it affects HMOs
- What standards you should meet
- How to find a qualified person to carry out the test
The read the full guidance for landlords CLICK HERE