Date Published 10 June 2020
THE CHANGES The Electrical safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 were passed by Parliament on 18 March 2020.
ELIGIBILITY The Regulations apply in England to all new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Private landlords must ensure:
• Electrical safety standards are met when the property is occupied during a tenancy.
• Every fixed electrical installation at the property is inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified person.
• The first inspection and testing is carried out before new tenancies commence on or after 1 July 2020 and by 1 April 2021 for existing tenancies. NB: Where the most recent report requires an inspection and testing to be at intervals of less than five years, it must be at intervals specified in that report. Electrical safety standards: the inspection and test of the installation is carried out in accordance with the eighteenth edition of the wiring regulations BS 7671:2018 (the national standard to which all domestic wiring must conform). Electrical installation: fixed electrical cables or fixed electrical equipment located on the consumer's side of the electricity supply meter as set out in the Building Regulations 2010. Qualified person: someone who is competent to undertake the inspection and testing as well as any further investigative or remedial work in accordance with the electrical safety standards.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Following the inspection and testing a landlord must: 1. Obtain a report that includes the results of the inspection and test and the date of the next inspection and test. 2. Supply a copy of that report to each existing tenant at the property with 28 calendar days of the inspection and test. 3. Supply a copy of the most recent report to any new tenant before the tenant moves in and to any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request in writing for the report. 4. Retain a copy of the report until the next inspection and test is due as well as supply a copy to the person carrying out the next inspection and test. NB: When requested the report must be provided to the local authority within seven calendar days.
Inspections start from Prices £250 inc VAT
