Landlords - electrical safety

Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020

Landlords have to make sure they meet national standards for electrical safety.

• See the GOV.UK guidance about Electrical Safety Standards

Who do the standards apply to?

A qualified and able person must inspect electrical work in private rented properties at least every 5 years. Any improvements that are identified must be carried out.

What do landlords need to do?

Landlords must:

• Get a report – usually called an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) from the person making the inspection. The report should explain the result and any work that is needed.
• Give a copy of the report to tenants within 28 days of the inspection and test (or to new tenants before they move in).
• Give a copy of the report to any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request for the report.
• Give a copy of the report to us within 7 days of receiving a request from us.

Improvement work and further investigation

If the report says that improvements or further investigation is needed, the landlord must tell the tenant and us within 28 days of completing the work.

Landlords must keep a copy of the report to give to the inspector and tester who does the next inspection and test.

Advice to Landlords on getting an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

EICRs may be needed for three reasons:

• To comply with Regulation 3 (1) of The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 312:2020).
• To comply with Regulation 7 (3) of The Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Additional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 1903:2007). This applies only to Section 257 HMOs (these are certain converted blocks of flats)
• As a condition of housing licensing applications under Parts 2 and 3 of ‘The Housing Act 2004’ (i.e. Mandatory HMO, Additional HMO and Selective licensing).

As a Housing Authority, we have to be sure that any EICR submitted is genuine and legitimate. We need to be satisfied that the inspector carrying out the inspection and testing is able to do so.

Inspecting and testing electrical installations is a complex task that requires an extra level of qualification.

We recommend that landlords who have to provide an EICR check the competency of their Electrical Inspector before employing them to do an EICR.

Landlords can do this by either:

• checking if the inspector is a member of a competent person scheme and registered for electrical inspection and testing on the Registered Competent Person Electrical website

or by

• getting the inspector to complete and signs a competency checklist and declaration certifying their competence, which must include that they hold:
  • an appropriate qualification covering the current version of the Wiring Regulations (BS 7671), such as City and Guilds 2382 -18 BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition Qualification
  • a specific qualification covering periodic inspection, testing and certification of electrical installations, such as City and Guilds 2391-51 or 52, Level 3 Award in Periodic Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations
  • at least two years’ experience, in carrying out periodic inspection and testing of electrical installations
  • Public Liability Insurance of at least £2 million
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance of at least £250,000

If you use an electrical inspector that is not a member of a relevant scheme, and registered specifically for electrical inspection and testing, we will need written confirmation of their competency with a completed check-list and declaration.

If we don’t get a suitable check list and declaration, we will not accept the EICR.

If we do not accept your EICR, you must provide an EICR from an Electrical Inspector that meets the requirements. We are not liable for any cost it takes to do this. We can take enforcement action if you fail to provide a genuine and legitimate EICR, by an inspector that is able to produce it.

All EICRs must be submitted in the format set out in Appendix 6 of BS 7671: 2018. Other formats of will not be accepted.

Electrical Installation Certificate

An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) may be accepted instead of an EICR, but only under very specific circumstances, including:

• where the property has had a full rewire within the last 5 years
• where the EIC includes a full schedule of inspection of test results, for all circuits
• where the electrician carrying out the rewire is suitably third party accredited, registered to carry out installation work and can self-certify under Part P of the Building Regulations.

Accepting an EIC instead of an EICR is at our discretion.
 

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