Compulsory electrical checks for all rented properties
The much anticipated regulations are expected to become law on 1 June 2020, despite worries over the availability of electrical engineers to carry out the jobs across the country.
The government has been tightening up regulations of the private rented sector, in the interest of improving housing conditions. The latest regulation around compulsory electrical testing and certification is expected to become law in June 2020.
In a nutshell, all lettings agents and landlords will have to do electrical testing at the start of every new tenancy from 1 July 2020 (and every 5 years thereafter). A certificate will have to be produced and given to the tenant at the start of the tenancy, in the same way as the gas safety certificates. The difference is that electrical certificates will last 5 years whereas gas safety certificates have to be renewed annually.
Thereafter on 1 April 2021, compulsory testing will apply on ALL TENANCIES. Therefore, all rental houses will have to be inspected by 1 April 2021 by a qualified electrician (and every 5 years thereafter). Failure to do so will attract fines up to £30,000.
The proposals are outlined in the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 laid in front of parliament this month. The government had hoped to introduce this earlier but was persuaded that landlords and letting agents should be given time to cope with the avalanche of other regulations in the pipeline.
Once the inspection is carried out, any problems highlighted by the electrician will have to be fixed within 28 days.
Belvoir Stoke have several qualified electicians on our books who regularly carry out these checks for us. Prices depend on the size of property, starting from £180 (inc VAT). Till now, despite our regular advice, only a small percentage of landlords have agreed to voluntary testing. It has always been the law that landlords are obliged to provide a safe house to the tenant. There is no proof of the electrical safety of the house without a proper certificate. That is why it is good practice to have a full electrical test.
If you are one of our landlords, we hold all your test certificates on file and will continue to diarise all your renewal dates, so you don't have to worry about them.
We will shortly be writing to all our landlords advising them of the need to order a full electrical testing. All landlords will definitely be advised during the change of tenancies, and eventually we aim to complete all testing by March 2021 to make the regulatory deadline.
Please ring us on 01782 478444 or email Josie Humphreys on stoke-on-trent@belvoir.co.uk to order a full testing at any time. She will coordinate with tenant and electrician and charge the cost to your next rent received.
