Do landlords need Electric Safety Certificates for their properties?

A guide to the safety certificates you require as a landlord
Commercial EICR
On 1st June 2020, Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force to improve the safety in all residential premises, particularly in the private rented sector. The regulations state that landlords are legally required to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested at least every five years, by a qualified and competent person. Should it be requested, the landlord must be able to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their local authority and tenants if requested.

Which properties do the regulations apply to?

They apply to all properties where a private tenant has a right to occupy a property as their only main residence and pays rent.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes, you can read all the exceptions here – but in general, they include social housing, those on a lease of 7 years or more, lodgers, student halls of residence among others.

What about Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)?

If a House in Multiple Occupation is a tenant’s main residence and they pay rent then these regulations apply. For HMOs with 5 or more tenants, these are covered by the Housing Act of 2004.

What about new builds or new installations?

If a property is completely rewired or is a new build property, it should have an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). The landlord will not need to carry out further checks until 5 years after the EIC has been issued.

What do the regulations require of you as a landlord?

  • Your property must meet national standards for electrical safety which are published as British Standard 7671. They are set out in the 18th Edition of the ‘Wiring Regulations’.
  • Ensure your rented properties are inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every 5 years.
  • Obtain a report from the person conducting the inspection and test giving the result and date for the next inspection and test.
  • You must provide a copy of the report to the existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection and test.
  • You must supply a copy to any new tenant prior to them occupying the premises.
  • If requested, you must supply a copy of the report to any prospective tenant within 28 days.
  • If requested, you must supply a copy of the report to the local authority within 7 days.
  • You must keep a copy and provide it to the inspector and tester who will undertake the next inspection and test.
  • If any remedial work or further investigation is shown as necessary on the report, this work must be completed within 28 days or shorter. You must then give written confirmation that the remedial works have been completed to the tenant and local authority within 28 days of competition.

How do I find a ‘qualified and competent person’ to carry out the test?

You need to ensure that the person inspecting is a member of a competent person scheme, such as NICEIC. They should have qualifications covering the current version of the Wiring Regulations as well as the periodic inspection, testing and certification of electrical installations. You should also ensure they have adequate insurance.

What items will be inspected and tested?

This will be all the ‘fixed’ elements at the property – so wiring, plug sockets, light fittings and the consumer unit. Anything else fixed such as showers and extractor fans will also be included.

What about all the appliances like fridges, cookers, televisions etc?

The regulations only cover fixed electrical installations. They do not cover electrical appliances. The Government recommends as good practice that landlords have Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) carried out on any appliances that they provide and they give a copy to the tenants. Tenants are responsible for ensuring their own electrical appliances are safe.

What are they looking for in the inspection?

The inspection will identify if any installations are overloaded, if there is any defective electrical work, if there are any potential fire risks or electrical shock hazards and if there is sufficient earthing or bonding.

What does the report show?

The Electrical Safety Report will show if any remedial work is required. There are different classification codes used:
  • Code 1 (C1): Danger present. Risk of injury. The person inspecting will try and make safe any C1 hazards before leaving the property.
  • Code 2 (C2): Potentially dangerous
  • Further Investigation (FI): A further investigation is required, without delay.
  • Code 3 (C3): Improvement recommended. Remedial work is not required for the report to be deemed satisfactory.
If there are any C1 or C2 codes present on the report, it means remedial work is required. This means the installation is unsatisfactory for continued use. If any further investigative work is required, the landlord must ensure this is carried out asap. If there are any C3 codes, no remedial work is required however it would enhance the safety of the installation if improvements were made.

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