If you're a property owner, it's crucial to keep your property up to level. Particularly, you'll want to ensure that the electrical certificate landlords systems in your property are safe and conform to certain standards.
Landlords must be sure that their electrical installations are checked and tested by a certified person on a regular basis. These inspections are referred to as EICRs or electrical installation condition reports.
Legal Requirements
Landlords have a lot of responsibilities to fulfill in order for their properties and tenants to be safe. Faulty wiring is one of the most frequent causes of house fires in the UK and that's why it's vital that you take the necessary steps to ensure that your property's electrical system is up to par.
Landlords must ensure that the electrical wiring in their property is in good order before letting it to tenants. This can help to prevent injuries or damage to your property and also save you money on repairs and maintenance costs in the long term.
You'll need to check and test your electrical equipment as a landlord, in order to be in compliance with the legal requirements. This involves an electrician visiting your property to inspect and test the electrics and then completing a report detailing any issues that were found and any remedial work that is required.
If you have a rental property, the law requires that you must supply the most current report to your tenants prior to when they move in. The report must be also provided to the local authority upon request.
It is not necessary to obtain an electric certificate every time you let out your home, but in the event that it has been at least five years since the last one was issued, then it may be required to conduct an electrical safety inspection. The EICR is a document which provides the test results as well as any remedial work that has to be completed and it is essential to have it in the possession of your tenants and local authorities the information they need.
It is recommended that an EICR be taken every 10 years. However, this has changed to a more lenient five-year rule starting in July 2020.
If your tenancy was established prior to the change in regulations, you aren't required to obtain a new electric certificate until April 2021. It is essential to have it updated as quickly as possible in the event that your tenancy gets extended or the last one expires.
How to ensure your tenants are safe
When you let a property you own, you are responsible to ensure that the electrical wiring is secure. This may include hiring an engineer to look over the property and test the electrics.
There are certain legal requirements that you must meet to keep your tenants safe in the property for example, making sure that everyone who performs work with gas appliances and flues is registered on the Gas Safe register. If you do not comply with these regulations you could be subject to an administrative fine from your local authority.
An electrician can conduct an independent professional electrical inspection. This will allow you to identify any potential issues with the electrical certificates system in your house and can save you a lot of hassle when something goes wrong.
It is recommended that you hire an electrician who is certified and licensed to examine your electrical installation. Also, make sure that you have an EICR certification on hand after the inspection has been completed. This document will prove to the landlord or the local authority and electric certificate anyone else who may require it that your electrical system was inspected in accordance with the current regulations.
This is a great way to avoid any future issues with your property's electrics. It can also reduce the chance of injuries or fire. To ensure that your tenants are safe, you must provide a copy of the EICR.
You will need to correct any areas that were deemed to be unsafe by the inspector on your EICR. If the report has the C1 or C2 classification code it is an immediate threat to the tenant or other residents in the building . You need to complete the remedial work immediately.
If you fail to take corrective action or electric certificate take corrective action, your local authority may issue a correctional note and impose a financial penalty. This could be up to PS30,000.
The local authority will provide recommendations to improve the electrical installation of your home if it is in poor condition. They will then issue an order to correct the issue that will ask you to follow their guidelines and implement the improvements within a specified time frame.
Maintaining a Clean and Well-Kept Property Your Property
Maintaining your property's good condition is one of your most important responsibilities as a landlord. A proper maintenance plan can make your property more attractive to prospective tenants and help you save money in the long run. A good quality insurance policy will safeguard your property in the event that it is damaged due to an accident.
Taking the time to carry out an in-depth inspection of your home is essential in order to make sure you're not wasting time and money on repairs you could have avoided. A regular inspection of your property should include a visual inspection of the ceilings, walls , and floors, in addition to an in-depth examination of the electrical installations inside. It is important to remember that some appliances have a short life span so it is important to replace them as soon as you can.
Selecting the right electricians to complete your inspection is a different method to ensure you're getting the highest quality work for your buck. It's best to select reputable companies that have at least five years of experience and who are members of relevant trade associations. The business is highly competitive, and you'll need to be able to count on the people who you trust to perform the job properly.
How to Protect Yourself
Electric certificates are an essential part of your responsibility as a landlord, and you should always ensure that they're kept up to current. You could face serious legal penalties and lose the right to rent your property in the event you fail to. Also, if the tenant was injured on your property because of faulty wiring, you could be liable for any damages they suffered.
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 1 June 2020 and required landlords to have their electrical installations tested and inspected by a licensed electrician, as a legal requirement. This was initially introduced to new tenancies. However, from April 2021 , it will be applied to existing tenancies too.
During an inspection the electrician will assess whether the wiring of your property is in good working order and in compliance with all rules and regulations. They will also identify any potential dangers.
They will also assess the safety of your home's fuse box, sockets and plugs. This will ensure that your tenants are safe from electrical hazards, and also prevent costly repairs in the future.
The report will also contain an identification code for the state of your installation, and will be able to tell you if it's satisfactory or not in that aspect. The classification code will provide an indication of the extent of any problems. If you have any concerns or concerns, you can consult the electrician for assistance.
To ensure that your electrics are in compliance with current regulations, get them checked by the same electrician. There is an item called "5-year testing, inspection" in the report. This section can be used to remind you that it is time to conduct another EICR.
If you are issued an EICR, it will contain the date when the electrician carried out their work on your property. This will allow you to remember when you should get your home checked. This will ensure that you don't violate any legal requirements and will help you protect your investment.
