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Electrical Safety Regulations To Come Into Force

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The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 were passed by Parliament earlier in the year and are due to come into force on 1st June. You can read the full document here.

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What does this mean?

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Private landlords must ensure:

• Electrical safety standards are met when the property is occupied during a tenancy.
• Every fixed electrical installation at the property is inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified person.
• The first inspection and testing are carried out before new tenancies commence on or after 1 July 2020 and by 1 April 2021 for existing tenancies.

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What do landlords need to do?

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Following the inspection and testing a landlord must:

1. Obtain a report that includes the results of the inspection and test and the date of the next inspection and test. (Typically, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is used to conduct an electrical installation safety report)
2. Supply a copy of that report to each existing tenant at the property with 28 calendar days of the inspection and test.
3. Supply a copy of the most recent report to any new tenant before the tenant moves in and to any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request in writing for the report.
4. Retain a copy of the report until the next inspection and test are due as well as supply a copy to the person carrying out the next inspection and test.

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What if further work is required?

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If further work is required, the landlord must ensure that the work is carried out by a qualified person within 28 calendar days or within the period specified in the report if this is less than 28 days, starting with the date of the inspection and testing.

Landlords must obtain written confirmation from a qualified person that further work has been carried out and that the electrical safety standards have been met.

The written confirmation, together with a copy of the report which required the further investigative or remedial work must then be provided to each existing tenant and the local housing authority within 28 days of completion of the work

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⚡ Electrical Safety Regulations to come into force ⚡

Subject to approval by both Houses of Parliament, landlords and agents will need to ensure electrical installation inspections and testing are carried.https://t.co/0UDQ84I40H pic.twitter.com/PMoaxolwpW

— ARLA Propertymark (@arla_uk) January 16, 2020

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What happens if I do not comply with the regulations?

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Where a local housing authority is satisfied, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a landlord has breached the rules, the local authority may impose financial penalties not exceeding £30,000.

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As a managing agent, what are you doing for your landlords?

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From 1^st July 2020, the electrical report becomes a mandatory document to provide to tenants starting new tenancies. Therefore we will only move tenants in if we have the document to be passed onto them.

We will be getting in touch with all our managed landlords to arrange the required report to be carried out. This will be done by one of our approved contractors in preparation for the regulations applying to existing tenancies from April 2021.

We anticipate carrying out the reports will be more challenging due to the COVID -19 crisis, but we will continue to follow guidelines and government advice, whilst acting on the requirements outlined by legislation.

If you would like to take advantage of our Property Management services, please contact our Property Management Department on 0161 443 4777.

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Related Links

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Landlords: what the new government advice means for you

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