A reminder has gone to landlords about new electrical safety standards that come into effect for existing tenancies in a week’s time, on April 1.

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, require private landlords to have the electrical installations in properties inspected and tested – by a qualified electrician – every five years.

Landlords that fail to comply, or fail to undertake necessary repairs, could face fines up to £30,000. Landlords will also have to provide a copy of the Electrical Inspection Condition Report to tenants and, if requested, to the local authority.

The regulations officially came into force back on June 1 last year and applied to new tenancies from July 1 – but it is only at the beginning of this April that they will apply to existing tenancies. 

“Good private rental sector landlords have always undertaken regular electrical checks” explains Lesley Rudd, chief executive of the charity Electrical Safety First. 

“But making these checks a legal requirement, with a significant penalty if landlords fail to comply, brings clarity and reduces electrical risk for people and property. And, of course, it is essential that these mandatory electrical checks are undertaken by a suitably qualified and competent person – a point we continue to highlight in all our campaigns.”

Electrical Safety First’s Best Practice Guide on this, is available as a free download from here.