What are the current safety requirements?
Currently landlords are not obliged to provide Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) every five years. The most recent regulations state that Landlords should keep electrics in good working order. It is only if the property is a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) then Landlords are required to arrange an inspection every five years.
What are the new regulations?
The new regulations state that it will be mandatory for agents and private landlords to ensure that all electrical wiring and fixed electrical installations are inspected and tested by a qualified person every five years. In addition, the landlord must also satisfy the following requirements:
- A copy of the most recent report must be supplied to existing tenants within 28 days.
- A copy of the last report must be provided to prospective tenants within 28 days of a request.
- A copy of the last report must be supplied to new tenants before occupation.
- A copy of the report must be given to the qualified person undertaking the next inspection.
What if there are faults in the electrical report?
Any faults in the safety report must be rectified and the Landlord is responsible for making this happen. Repairs must be completed by a competent, qualified person within 28 days of the initial inspection and the Landlord must make sure that they receive written confirmation of the work, stating the repairs and that safety standards are now met. This report must be supplied to the tenant within 28 days of the repairs.
How are the Landlord Mandatory Five-year Electrical Safety Checks enforced?
Local housing authorities will be responsible for enforcing the new regulations and have power to arrange remedial works. Enforcement actions can include:
Supplying an electrical report within 7 days of a request by the local housing authority.
If urgent works are required, the local authority must serve a remedial notice on the landlord. The landlord then has 28 days from the date of the notice to take the action stated therein.
If the landlord does not carry out the remedial works, the local authority can access the property to fix the issue and recover costs incurred from the landlord.
Breaches of the regulations can results in the local housing authority imposing fines up to £30,000.
How can Bison Electrical help?
We have a team of 18th edition qualified electricians and are registered with NICEIC. All work we carry out conforms to Part P regulations and we ensure a high level of customer service and quality.
Bison currently manages over 200 homes with electrical compliance and has a wealth of expertise and experience in this area.
Bison Electrical Services Limited are part of the PRS (Private Rental Scheme) Register.
Bison Electrical Services team of electricians offer our landlord mandatory Five-year Electrical Safety Checks throughout Suffolk and Norfolk, including the towns and cities of Norwich, Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay, Harleston, Diss, Halesworth, Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, Southwold and beyond. To find out more about our landlord mandatory Five-year Electrical Safety Checks, or to ask for a quote, call us on 01502 512219 or email info@bisonelectrical.co.uk.
A full copy of the new regulations can be found here on the gov.uk website.
