In
a welcome move, government officials are debating over the
possibility of electrical safety checks becoming a compulsory
requirement for landlords. Electrical safety checks have long been a
grey area for landlords with the recommendations leaving an open door
for less reputable landlords to not undertake any form of electrical
safety checks on the properties they rent out.
The
recommendations currently
The
recommendations are to have an Electrical Installation Condition
Report (EICR) carried out every 5 years or with every change of
tenancy whichever is the sooner. Unlike gas safety, no certificate is
needed to confirm electrical safety. However, a landlord does have
to demonstrate how they meet the electrical safety requirements
should an electrical accident occur within their property. The
majority of landlords opt for an EICR which is the simplest method of
staying compliant and is a recognised document in a Court of Law.
An
EICR is carried out by experienced domestic electricians in London
who will issue a certificate to confirm the condition of the
electrical installation in the property.
Government
proposals
The
government is proposing to make electrical safety checks a mandatory
requirement in rental properties by imposing a requirement to have an
EICR carried out on the property at least once every 10 years.
Whilst this is not as often as it should be, here at Fulcher Edwards
we acknowledge that this is a step in the right direction and brings
electrical safety checks more in line with the current mandatory gas
safety checks.
We
expect this move to be fully supported by the vast majority of
landlords who are already following current guidelines.
Additionally
the Government has also increased the penalties for non-compliance
with electrical safety recommendations in rental homes. In 2013, the
fine for non-compliance was raised from £5,000 to £20,000.
The
government also wants all rental homes to fitted with an RCD and
electrical equipment supplied by the landlord to be PAT tested.
The
proposals do not come a minute too soon as the findings from a survey
carried out by the Electrical Safety Council in 2013 revealed that
tenants in the private sector were more likely to affected by
electrical accidents and fires with 1.7 million private renters
reporting that electrical problems and issues notified to the
landlord were never acted upon or not addressed in sufficient time.
What
a tenant should expect to see before renting a property
Although electrical safety checks are still currently only a
recommendation, we believe that landlords who are serious about your
safety will ensure their electrical installations in London
properties are safe before the property is let.
Before you go ahead with a rental agreement on a property ensure you
see the following documentation before proceeding:
- A dated EICR certificate
- A dated gas safety certificate
- PAT test certificate and list of electrical appliances supplied by the landlord
- Modern consumer unit fitted with RCD
It makes sense to ensure your safety in the property you are thinking
of renting and landlords choosing not to comply are risking a prison
sentence, heavy fines, invalidation of insurance, not to mention the
risk of being sued by you as the tenant!
In our opinion you are better spending your money with a reputable
landlord who cares about your safety.
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