Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector

By Shaun Adams Subscribe to newsletter

The ‘Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020’ will apply to all new tenancies starting on or after 1st July 2020, and to existing tenancies starting from 1st April 2021.

To clarify – the regulations will apply to all new tenancies that start on or after 01/07/2020 and all existing tenancies have an electrical inspection carried out before 01/04/2021, regardless of when they started.

If you currently have an electrical safety certificate less than five years old you will not need a new one.

New Electrical Safety Regulations

The ‘Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020’ will apply to all new tenancies starting on or after 1st July 2020, and to existing tenancies starting on or after 1st April 2021. It is yet to be confirmed if this will also apply to tenancies renewed on or after 1st July 2020 but based on previous regulations it is deemed to be quite likely.

Breaches of the regulations could result in financial penalties of up to £30,000.

What needs to be done

The new regulations require landlords to ensure every electrical installation in their rental premises is inspected and tested at least every 5 years by a qualified person.

The first inspection and testing is to be carried out either before a tenancy starts for new tenancies, or by 1st April 2021 for existing tenancies.

Following the inspection and testing landlords must –

1. Obtain a report from the person conducting the inspection and test, which gives the result of the inspection and the date of the next inspection;
2. Supply copies of the inspection reports to each existing tenant of the property within 28 days of the inspection;
3. Retain a copy until the next inspection takes place and give a copy of this to the person carrying out the next inspection and test;
4. Supply a copy of the last report to any new tenant before occupation, or any prospective tenant within 28 days of a request from the prospective tenant.
5. Upon request, the report must be provided to the local housing authority within 7 days

Investigative or Remedial Work Required

If, after an inspection and test, the report requires further investigative or remedial work to be carried out, the landlord must:

1. Ensure that further investigative or remedial work is carried out by a qualified person within 28 days, or the period specified in the report if it’s less than 28 days.
2. Obtain written confirmation from a qualified person that the further investigative or remedial work has been carried out and that –
   • the electrical safety standards are met; or
   • further investigative or remedial work is required
3. Supply that written confirmation, together with a copy of the original report which required the further investigative or remedial work, to each existing tenant of the rental property within 28 days of completion of the further investigative or remedial work;
4. Supply that written confirmation, together with a copy of the original report which required the further investigative or remedial work, to the local housing authority within 28 days of completion of the further investigative or remedial work.

Click HERE to view the Regulations in full visit.