Electrical Safety Certificates Electrical Installation Condition Reports, EICR

As of the 1st July 2020, new mandatory regulations are expected to be introduced. They will require all private landlords to carry out and complete mandatory electrical checks in any rented property that they manage.

These regulations will apply to every private rented property, and just as with gas appliances, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) must be obtained and issued. If this safety inspection identifies any issues that require rectifying, Landlords will then have 28 days to ensure that these are completed.

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020 will state that it is compulsory by law for electrical safety checks to be carried out on private rented properties across the UK. This will require the landlord to ensure that the installation is inspected and checked at least every five years or more, if this is what is advised in the most recent safety report.

These new regulations outline that at the beginning of each private tenancy, that any electrical installations are inspected and tested by a qualified electrician. With this in mind, all existing tenancies must also be in compliance by April 2021. Failure to adhere to these regulations could result in landlords and/or agents being fined up to £30,000.