Changes to be Introduced Surrounding Landlord Electrical Inspections in 2020

For some time now there has been rumour that 'mandatory electrical inspections' would be brought in as a requirement in the Private Rented Sector. in England Early 2019 did see the introduction of a draft set of proposals regarding this, however the lack of parliamentary time due to the whole Brexit saga meant movement was slow. However, on the 13th of January 2020, a full detailed set of regulations were laid out before parliament for their consideration. The "Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020" detail the new requirements for electrical safety checks in rental properties and the expected timescales for their implementation. In a nutshell, the regulations require that every private rented property has an electrical inspection completed by a suitably qualified person, a minimum of every 5 years. ***There are instances where this timescale may be shorter, such as where the previous inspection has suggested a shorter timeframe due to the condition of the installation

The implementation of the new regulations will be as follows:

New Tenancies - New tenancies must meet the new requirements from July 1st 2020

• Existing Tenancies - Existing tenancies must meet the new requirements from April 1st 2021

The regulations also require that:

Landlords provide a copy of the electrical inspection report to the tenant within 28 days of the inspection (or before the tenancy begins for new tenants)

Landlords must supply a copy to the local authority within 7 days (if requested to do so)

Any faults highlighted by the electrical inspection must be remedied within 28 days (or sooner if detailed within the electrical report)

• Written confirmation must be obtained to confirm that any necessary repairs have been completed

Non-compliance with the new regulations will mean the local authority will supply the landlord with an 'enforcement notice'. If a landlord fails to act upon this, the local authority can enforce it by having the repairs completed (and billing the landlord) or even impose a fine of up to £30,000 The new regulations still need to pass through the House of Lords before they become law, however all signs are that this will happen within the next couple of weeks. As always with any regulations 'still in the pipeline', there is a chance that some last minute changes may occur. The above information was correct at time of publication (Jan 2020), and we will update it as any changes occur.

Countdown to landlord electrical checks being a requirement for

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