DO THE ELECTRICAL SAFETY REGULATIONS APPLY TO MY PROPERTIES?
· Residential tenancies where tenants have the right to occupy either all or part of a premises as their only or main residence, they pay a rent
· The regulations replace those already in place for HMOs.
WHEN ARE THE REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE FROM?
· For new private tenancies entered into from 1st July 2020
· For existing tenancies from 1st April 2021.
ARE THERE ANY TENANCIES THAT ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE ELECTRICAL SAFETY REGULATIONS?
· Private registered providers of social housing; lodger arrangements; long leases or tenancies which grant a right of occupation for a term of 7 years or more; student lettings in halls of residence; and tenancies granted to occupiers of hostels, refuges, care homes, hospitals, hospices and other accommodation provided as a result of a duty imposed on an NHS body.
WHAT DO LANDLORDS / AGENTS NEED TO DO?
· Hire a qualified person to carry out an inspection to check that the electrical installations in their rental properties. Beacons can arrange this on your behalf
· Ensure the electrician prepares a report detailing: Results of the inspection, date of the next inspection (which will need to be at least every 5 years)
· Initial inspections need to be carried out before any new tenancy is granted from 1st July 2020, and by 1st April 2021 for existing tenancies.
· If the report identifies a breach, further investigations must be carried out within 28 days of the inspection. Landlords should obtain written confirmation of completion of the remedial works and provide this within 28 days of completion to each existing tenant, and to the local authority.
REPORT REQUIREMENTS
· The report will need to be supplied to new tenants before they move in, to existing tenants within 28 days of receiving it, and to any prospective tenant within 28 days of their request to view the report.
LOCAL AUTHORITY’S POWERS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE
· They have the power to demand sight of the report, which landlords should provide within 7 days of the request or they face a penalty.
· They also have the power to serve a remedial notice on a landlord to ensure compliance with the regulations if they believe the landlord is in breach.
· Landlords have 28 days from the date the notice is received to remedy the breach, and if the work is not carried out in time then the local authority has the power to carry out the required works themselves (on providing prior written notice to the landlord) and then recover their costs from the landlord.
· Landlords who fail to comply with the regulations may face a civil penalty up to a maximum of £30,000.
