Should Electrical Installation Condition Reports become Compulsory?

This week has seen a request made from a retired landlord in Liverpool to the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) asking them to lobby governmental ministers to make electrical safety inspections and certificates mandatory.

Currently, it is only a recommendation that landlords carry out an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every 5 years or change of occupancy, whichever is the sooner. However, a landlord has to prove how they ensured the electrical safety of their tenant should an electrical incident take place on the property. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 states that a landlord is responsible “to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling house for the supply of water, gas and electricity......”

All reputable landlords have an EICR carried out at their properties. It is the only documented proof that they have done everything possible to ensure their tenants safety and well being. However, as always, it is a minority of landlords that don't follow the recommendations. The majority of landlords take their business and reputation seriously and therefore view the safety of their tenants of being of paramount importance.

At Fulcher Edwards, we work with many landlords in London ensuring that electrical testing is carried with the minimum of disruption and we offer special rates for 2 or more properties that require electrical testing.

In 2012, the Electrical Safety Council wanted to see EICR reports being considered as important as Gas Safety Regulations saying that the current electrical 'voluntary' system isn't working. The Liverpool Echo receives reports on a regular basis of tenants receiving severe injuries because of defective or poorly fitted electrical fittings and appliances. On course these exact issues are also reported in London and we at Fulcher Edwards agree that this problem needs to be addressed.

Retired landlord, Richard Globe wants to see landlords, including landlords of student accommodation being made to carry out yearly checks and inspections of all supplied electrical appliances, fittings and wiring conditions. This could see landlords having an EICR report carried out as often as every 6 months.

At Fulcher Edwards, we would welcome a move to make electrical certificates a legal requirement on par with Gas Safety Regulations and a clamp down on those few landlords who repeatedly refuse to not comply with regulations and who show little or no regard to the electrical safety of their tenants.