New Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
Duties of private landlords in relation to electrical installations:
Inspections of electrical installations by a qualified electrician will be mandatory at intervals of no more than 5 years or less than 5 years if specified in a previous report for landlords for all new tenancies from 1st July 2020. This will be rolled out to all existing tenancies from 1st April 2021. The new regulations were tabled by the Government on Monday 13th January 2020, requiring pre-tenancy and five yearly checks of all fixed appliances and wiring.
Landlords failing to comply with the new rules could face a financial penalty of up to £30,000.
Once the electrical installation has been tested, the landlord needs to receive a written report from the inspector, with the results of the inspection and test and the date of the next inspection and test. They must then;
- Supply a copy of that report to tenants within 28 days of the inspection and test.
- Give a copy to the local housing authority, if requested within seven days.
- Retain a copy of the report until the next inspection and give it to the person carrying out the next inspection.
For new tenancies, the landlord must:
- Give the tenant a copy of the most recent report before they occupy the property.
- Supply a copy of the most recent report to any prospective new tenant who asks for it in writing, within 28 days
For more detailed information http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2020/9780111191934
