Why should landlords care about electrical safety checks?

As a caring landlord you probably already have the electrical installations within rented properties under your control inspected and tested on a regular basis. We know that in recent times being a landlord can be far from a rewarding position however, are you aware that failing to properly maintain the electrical installations within these rented properties or, failing to have the installations inspected and tested at recommended intervals, could leave landlords open to prosecution, fines can be as much as £30,000 for each breach of these regulations.

Under the consumer protection act 1987, it is illegal to rent any property; the only way to know if the electrical installation is safe is through regular inspection and testing. More and more local authorities are also introducing selective licensing zones within the areas they are responsible for, this puts an even greater burden on landlords but, it does make sure that the properties rented out within these areas are safe and reach the minimum level of safety required for tenants.

Every year around 70 deaths and 350,000 injuries in UK homes are caused by faulty electrics and electrical equipment. Almost half of all domestic fires are caused by electricity. If you live in a privately rented property, statistics show that you are at a higher risk of electric shock.

There is confusion amongst landlords and tenants over who has responsibility for electrical safety in rented properties. By law, the landlord must ensure that electrical installations and wiring are maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy. The tenant should feel obliged to flag electrical problems as soon as they appear, as well as maintain any electrical items they bring into the property.

Legislation introduced called the Private Rental Sector Scheme in July 2020, means all private landlords are required to have the fixed electrical installations in their rented properties inspected, tested and certified as satisfactory and safe for continued use. This must happen at least every 5 years or, should a tenancy end before this period, the landlord may even have to have another inspection undertaken. There are also strict regulations regarding smoke, heat and CO2 detection within this scheme that landlords must comply with in order to let a property.

Failure to have these inspections carried out or, failure to carry out remedial work identified as potentially dangerous in order to bring the installation up to a safe standard within 28 days, can result in fines of up to £30,000 for each breach.  In order to have this inspection carried out, landlords are expected to use a suitably qualified, insured and experienced electrician. A full list of electricians assessed and approved to carry out this type of inspection can be found at The Electrical Competent Person website. Click HERE to access this list. Failure to use a suitably approved electrician is also a breach of these regulations.

A Landlord must issue a satisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report to every tenant within 28 days from the start of the tenancy:

Any remedial works identified during the inspection process, required in order to bring the installation up to a safe and satisfactory standard, must be carried out within 28 days from the issue of an unsatisfactory report. Once the remedial works have been completed, the appropriate installation certificate issued by the electrician that carried out the remedial works is then attached to the unsatisfactory report. This gives a paper trail of the items identified as unsatisfactory and, the subsequent remedial works carried out.

ElectriciansOnCall has been providing this professional inspection and testing service to social, private and commercial landlords since 1997. Whether you have a single bedsit, a large portfolio of properties or an HMO, we can advise and assist on your legal responsibilities. Make sure you’re not liable should the worst happen. Contact your local office today for an initial chat.