Later this year, all landlords will be obliged by law to have the electrical installations in their rental homes inspected and tested at the beginning of each new tenancy and at least every five years after that. The plans to introduce electrical checks were announced by the government last week, with detailed regulations now put forward to Parliament for its approval.
So what do the draft regulations say? Well, from 1 July 2020, landlords letting homes in England will need to ensure that electrical installations are inspected and tested by a qualified person prior to the start of a new tenancy. They will then need to follow up this initial inspection every five years or more frequently if the installation throws up any issues that need addressing sooner. Electrical safety tests will need to be carried out by 1 April 2021 on all properties with existing tenancies, with regular tests in accordance with the new regulations from then on.
Renters must be able to feel safe in their own homes and owners and landlords should never be tempted to save money by carrying out electrical repairs themselves. Once the regulations kick in, tenants must be given a copy of the electrical report at the start of their tenancy and each time a check is carried out. This should stop amateur electricians from putting residents in danger with DIY fixes and short-cuts.
To ensure your properties are always compliant with the regulations that landlords need to abide by, why not download our PlanetRent app today. Our lettings software means that when the law changes, so do your processes. So get the app free today and never get caught out by new legislation again.