A quick guide for Landlords to get up to speed on electrical checks in 2021

On the 1st June 2020 new legislation came into force for Landlords in England for electrical safety checks to be completed on their property following this timeline:

-All new specified tenancies from 1st July 2020

-All existing specified tenancies from 1st April 2021

This was introduced by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government who specify that these safety checks are to be carried out at intervals of no more than 5 years (or tenancy change – whichever comes earlier) by a qualified and competent person.

Buzz Electrical are approved contractors for this work. Any person or Electrical business should be listed on this site

Please contact us today on 01386 423 600 or email info@buzzelectrical.co.uk and book an appointment for us to carry out these checks on your behalf. Do take action soon in case your property needs further improvements or investigations.

A series of inspections and tests of the electrical installation, not including electrical appliances. It’s advised that appliances are also checked for safety, however it’s not a requirement of the legislation.

It will depend on the work carried out, for some existing installations there may already be a valid (less than 5 years old) Electrical Installation Certificate covering the whole property, this would have been issued when the installation was first installed or rewired.

If there is no valid Electrical Installation Certificate then a report is required, this is generally known as an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). This report will provide you with an overview of the condition of the electrical installation and (if relevant) will list any remedial works that may be needed.

If the report has an unsatisfactory outcome the EICR will list the issues and a code will be attributed to the severity of the issue, these codes are

Code C1 ‘Danger present’ Risk of injury Immediate remedial action required

Code C2 ‘Potentially dangerous’ Immediate remedial action required

Code C3 ‘Improvement recommended’

Code FI ‘Further investigation required’

You or your agent is required to supply a copy of this electrical safety check / report:

-to the existing resident/tenant within 28 days of the inspection and test

-to a new tenant before they occupy the premises

-to any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request for the report

The landlord must also supply the local housing authority with a copy of this report within seven days of receiving a request for a copy and retain a copy of the report to give to the inspector and tester who will undertake the next inspection and test.

Where the report shows that remedial work is necessary, you must complete this work within 28 days or any shorter period if specified as necessary in the report. Then you or your agent must supply written confirmation of the completion of the remedial works to the tenant and the local housing authority within 28 days of completion of the works.

If the local housing authority finds that landlords are in breach of their duties in relation to electrical installations - they must serve a notice. It will set out the remedial works required to comply with these duties and may impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000.

National Residential Landlords Association:

https://www.nrla.org.uk/resources/looking-after-your-property/electrical-safety-inspections

Electrical Safety First – Landlord Guidance:

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk /guidance/advice-for-you/advice-for-landlords/

Electrical Safety in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312/contents/made

Please contact Buzz Electrical today to book your property/ies in for their Electrical Safety Check.

This service will be in high demand so we recommend that you contact us as soon as possible.

Also, if your property requires any additional improvements or investigations then these will need to be actioned quickly. Get in touch today! Call 01386423 600 or email info@buzzelectrical.co.uk

Buzz Electrical have been assessed as competent to provide Electrical Safety Inspections in the Private Rented Sector(England) in accordance with the requirements of BS7671 (IET WiringRegulations).

Adapted from guidance on www.niceic.com

Image thanks to Unplash, LuizaGiannelli (shady street)