Mandatory electrical safety checks to be introduced this summer?

A proposal by the Government sets out detailed regulations for enforcing five year mandatory electrical safety checks in the rental sector.


The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 were set out in Parliament earlier this week. They require approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords before they come into force.

The regulations, which are still in draft stages, propose that all new private tenancies in England will need to ensure that electrical installations are tested and inspected by a qualified person before the tenancy begins. The landlord will then need to ensure that the installation is inspected and tested at least every five years – and more often if the most recent safety report requires it. If passed, this would be introduced from 1 July 2020.

For existing tenancies, an electrical safety test will need to be carried out by 1 April 2021, with regular tests following this as outlined above.

Please note – If you are concerned that all sounds very complicated we are happy to help. Just click on this link to find out more about our Manchester property management service.

The regulations will apply to all properties across the private rented sector, including houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). These regulations will replace the existing requirements for HMOs regarding electrical installation testing and inspection.

A ‘qualified person’ for the purposes of these regulations is a person competent to undertake the inspection and testing required and any further investigative or remedial work in accordance with the electrical safety standards.

Local authorities can impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 for a breach of the regulations. Where there are multiple breaches, the local authority can impose multiple penalties.

Electrical safety reports 

Once the electrical installation has been tested, the landlord must:

  • Ensure they receive a written report from the person conducting the inspection, which includes the results and the required date for the next inspection
  • Supply a copy of this report to each existing tenant living in the property within 28 days of the inspection
  • Supply a copy within seven days to the local authority, if they request a copy
  • Keep a copy of the report until the next inspection, and give a copy to the person undertaking the next inspection.

For new tenancies, the landlord must:

  • Give a copy of the most recent report to a new tenant before the tenant occupies the property
  • Give a copy of the most recent report to any prospective new tenant who requests the report in writing, within 28 days of receiving such a request.

Remedying any faults 

If the electrical safety report identifies a fault or potential fault, which the landlord must either investigate further or repair, the landlord must ensure further investigations or repairs are completed by a qualified person within 28 days of the inspection, or within the timeframe set out in the report if this is shorter.

Following these further investigations or repairs, the landlord must ensure they receive written confirmation that these have been carried out and that either the electrical safety standards are met, or further work is required.

This confirmation must be supplied to each existing tenant within 28 days of the work being undertaken, along with the original report identifying further work is required.

This process must be repeated until the electrical installation is found to be compliant.

Enforcement 

If a landlord breaches the above requirements, the local authority has a duty to act. Where urgent works are not required, the local authority must serve a ‘remedial notice’ on the landlord. This must be served within 21 days of the local authority deciding it has reasonable grounds to act. The landlord will have 28 days from the date of service of the notice to take the action outlined, or must make written representations within 21 days if they disagree with the notice.

Once the landlord has made written representations, the remedial notice is suspended until the local authority responds – which must be within seven days. If the local authority confirms the notice, the suspension ceases, and the landlord has 21 days to comply with the requirements.

If the tenants of the property refuse access to the landlord for these remedial works, the landlord will not be considered to have breached this duty purely because they have not brought legal proceedings to access the property.

If the landlord does not undertake the remedial works, the local authority can access the property with the tenants’ permission to remedy the issue. The local authority must serve notice to the landlord informing them of this action – to which the landlord can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Local authorities can also recover costs reasonably incurred from the landlord.

Where urgent remedial works are required and the landlord has not undertaken these, the local authority can arrange for the works to be undertaken. The local authority must inform the landlord within seven days of the works commencing.

Staying on top of safety checks in a property is critical; be it gas, structural or indeed electrical. Composing the necessary arrangements to carry these checks out, whilst vitally important, can also be hugely time consuming. That’s why Abode and our range of qualified, trusted contractors are able to carry these checks out for you; giving you back control of your time whilst ensuring your properties are safe for tenants.

 

For more information on how we can save you time whilst still ensuring these vital checks are carried out and thoroughly documented, give us a call on 0161 883 255.

More Posts

Get your FREE Property Valuation

Is your property undervalued? Let’s find out

Thank you

Tracy, who is one of our directors, will be in touch shortly to discuss your valuation.

She has over 20 years of experience managing properties in the Manchester area, so you’ll be in very safe hands.

Your Message Was Sent

One of our advisors will be in touch shortly to discuss your query.

Thanks for subscribing

Don’t forget to check your junk mail and spam filter to ensure you get uninterrupted emails from us.