From 1 April, all landlords in England must follow new rules to help improve tenant safety.
The new regulations, titled The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, were officially brought in on 1st April 2020 and apply to all new tenancies as of 1st July 2020. They will be extended to all tenancies – new and existing – as of 1 April 2021.
You’ll need to get a certificate in the form of a written report – this is usually an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). The EICR highlights any urgent work that must be carried out to ensure the property is safe.
A “satisfactory” EICR will mean a repeat inspection won’t be necessary for another five years unless otherwise specified on the report. The EICR should be completed by a person competent in inspection and testing, such as a registered electrician. Landlords must supply new tenants with a copy of the current EICR at the start of their tenancies. You must also test your property every five years.
An EICR will cost a landlord about £150 to £300, depending on the size and location of the property. Failure to comply or have necessary repairs undertaken could face fines of up to £30,000.
Watsons Head of Lettings Aaron Stannard said: “Whilst many landlords already carry out checks, some do not. The new rules are a step change in safety for tenants, but will obviously add a further cost and organisational burden on landlords. As a landlord its crucial that you understand your legal obligations or the consequences could be severe. To help out we are offering Three Months FREE Property Management to ensure your rental property is one less thing you have to worry about.”
Register your interest in our 3 months free property management offer here – Three Months FREE Property Management
