Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate is proactive in making sure that their tenants are. They make an excellent contribution to the housing markets. However, a few are not doing so and put their tenants at risk. The new Regulations oblige the landlord to have the electrical wiring in their properties examined and verified by an individual competent and qualified with a minimum frequency every five years. Landlords must give an electronic copy of the Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate to their tenants and their local authority when asked to do so. That means landlords are now required to take the steps good landlords take care of: ensure the electrical wiring in their rental properties is secure.
The Regulations were in force from 1 June 2020. They are an element of the Department’s more considerable efforts to increase security in all residential areas, particularly the private rental sector. This is an essential step in bringing down the rental sector for the private sector and ensuring that it can provide safe, high-quality and safe housing. Together with our owner-occupied and social sector, This is the country’s housing needs.
The government appreciates the contributions of good landlords, which is why the majority offer well-maintained, secure, safe, and high-quality areas to work, live, and raise families. We are aware that the restrictions put in place by the current measures to limit the chance of contracting COVID-19 can make it more challenging to meet the rules that apply to the private rental sector. This is why we have created a guideline for landlords, tenants, and local authorities to address people’s worries regarding performing work during the pandemic and to ensure that homes are maintained in good condition and free of hazards.
What do The Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate Standards in the Private Rented Sector (London) Regulations 2022 require?
Landlords who rent privately-owned accommodation must:
- Check that you are sure that the national standards for electrical safety are met. These standards are laid out in the 18th version of “Wiring Regulations,” issued under British Standard 7671.
- Inspect the electrical wiring at the property they lease is tested and inspected by a competent and qualified person at least every five years.
- Get a written document from the individual performing the inspection and test that contains the results and specifies the next test and inspection dates.
- Provide a copy of Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate to the tenant currently renting within 28 days after conducting the test and inspection.
- Please provide a copy report to a prospective tenant before they arrive at the property. Also, Provide a copy report to every prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving an inquiry to see the document.
- Provide the local authority with the information within seven working days of receiving an inquiry for an exact copy.
- Please keep a copy of the report to an inspector and the tester who will conduct their next test and inspection.
- If the report indicates that further investigation or remedial work is needed, finish the work within 28 days or a shorter time frame if required within the document.
- Provide written confirmation of the completed remedial work by the electrician to the tenant and the Local authority within the first 28 days of the completion of the work.
What properties are rented that have the Electrical Safety Regulations apply to?
The Regulations apply to all situations when a tenant is private and has the right to live in the property as their sole or primary residence and pay rent. This is the case for assured shorthold tenancies as it is with licenses to reside in.
Refer to the guideline on types of tenancy
There are exceptions within Schedule 1 in the Regulations, including lodgers, social housing, those who have a lease for seven years or more, student residence halls, and hostels and refuges. Hospitals, care homes, hospices, and other accommodations related to healthcare services.
What do you think of Houses in Multiple Occupations (HMOs)?
An HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) (HMO) refers to a house that is rented to at least three persons who do not belong to a single household (for instance, the family) but share common facilities such as the kitchen and bathroom. When an HMO is the sole residence of a tenant or primary residence that is rented, the regulations apply to the HMO. The Administration of Houses in Multiple Occupation (London) Regulations 2006 previously set specific obligations on landlords about electrical safety. This obligation has been removed, and HMOs have been covered under brand-new Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate.
HMOs that have five or more tenants are licensed. The Housing Act 2004 has been changed by the Regulations to include a new obligatory condition for HMO licenses to ensure that each electrical system within the HMO is in functioning order and safe for use. Check out the guidance for HMO licenses.
Where can I find an expert and qualified person to carry out the test?
The Regulations stipulate that landlords must ensure that the electrical systems in their buildings are tested and inspected by a skilled, certified, and competent individual at least every five years. The guidance was developed in the field of safety for electrical equipment. It allows landlords to select an accredited and skilled tester and inspector.
This can include but isn’t only:
- Electrical Safety Roundtable
- Register of Competent Persons Registered Electrical Single Mark and Registration
The industry of electrical safety has created competent personnel programs. Membership in these schemes will not be required to ensure that there isn’t any further pressure on the sector and there is no unnecessary burden on inspectors or testers.
When commissioning an inspection to determine whether a person is qualified and competent, landlords should:
- Verify that you can determine if the person inspecting is part of a scheme to identify competent persons. It is required that the inspector complete a checklist that demonstrates their expertise, including previous experience, as well as whether they carry sufficient insurance coverage and have an accredited qualification that covers the latest edition of Wiring Regulations and the periodic inspection conducting tests and even certifications of electric installations.
What standards should the electrical wiring meet?
The following requirements are listed within the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations. The Regulations stipulate that landlords must ensure that safety standards are adhered to and that investigation or remedial work be completed if the report demands it. The electrical system should be safe to continue using. In reality, when the report is not requiring any remedial or investigative work, the landlord will not be required to perform any additional work.
The non-profit organization Electrical Safety First has put together a set of guidelines that could be helpful to landlords to understand the requirements:
- Guideline for landlords
- Tenants’ guidance
- Classification Codes best practice guide
- Wiring Regulations Q&A
What is to be examined, and What will be tested?
The electrical fixtures fixed in the home, such as the wiring, sockets (plug sockets), the fittings for lighting, and the unit for consumption (or the fuse box), will be examined. This includes permanently connected devices like extractors and showers.
What happens during the inspection?
The inspection will discover the following:
- If electrical equipment is not adequately rated
- there could be electrical shock hazards or fire dangers
- If there is a fault with the electrical system
- There is a deficiency of bonding or earthing. These two methods prevent electrical shocks from being incorporated into electrical installations.
What about electrical appliances such as refrigerators, cookers, televisions, etc.?
The Regulations do not apply to appliances with electrical components but only to permanent electrical installations. We suggest landlords routinely perform portable appliance tests (PAT) on every electrical appliance they supply and provide tenants with a copy of any electrical tests conducted as an average standard.
Tenants are accountable for ensuring that all electrical appliances they own are secure. Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate might consider registration of their electrical appliances using a product registration scheme.
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