Mandatory electrical safety regulations to be introduced in England
Alex Giblett • January 17, 2020
The draft Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (england) Regulations 2020 were proposed in Parliament on 14 January 2020.
The Housing and Planning Act 2016, gave the Government the power to let the Secretary of State make regulations regarding proposed mandatory electrical installations checks.
In accordance with that power, the draft Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, were yesterday laid before Parliament. These draft regulations further support the Government’s drive to improve the standard of housing in the private rental sector.
Whilst a lot of landlords and agents already carry out these checks voluntarily, the draft regulations require that, from 1 July 2020, all landlords and letting agents of new private tenancies in England, ensure that all electrical installations are inspected and tested for electrical safety by a qualified person prior to the start of the tenancy and then every five years after that. Failure to carry out these checks may result in a hefty fine of up to £30,000.
For existing tenancies in England, landlords and letting agents must ensure that the electrical installations are inspected and tested by a qualified person by 1 April 2021 and then every five years after this date.
Landlords and letting agents will also be required to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to the tenant following the inspection. If there are any problems outlined by the inspection, letting agents and landlords will have 28 days to remedy these issues.
We will keep you updated as the regulations to take their journey through the House of Commons and Housing of Lords, but until then 1 July 2020 should be a date for your diary.
If you have any questions about your obligations as landlord or as a managing agent of a property, then please feel free to contact the team and we will be happy to help.
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