x
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.
By Scott Battram

Residential Property Specialist, Hunters Law

TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

New electrical safety regulations unlikely to affect ‘slum’ landlords

New electrical safety regulations were presented before Parliament on 13 January 2020 in a move by the government to strengthen electrical safety practices and bring in line with those already well-established within Gas safety regulations in private residential tenancies.

The regulation, if implemented, will only affect private residential tenancies; affecting new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and those tenancies already in existence from 1 April 2021.

The proposal will move to ensure all electrical wiring and fixed electrical installations are signed off and reported by a qualified electrician.

Advertisement

This "report" will be required to be shown at the outset of every new tenancy and renewed at least every five years, if not earlier, dependent on any electrics or fixed electrical installations that are altered or changed by the landlord.

If the "report" highlights any issues, the landlord will be required to remedy the issue within 28 days. If the landlord does not comply with the recommendations made in the "report", and this is notified to the Local Authority, which has the power to issue a potential fine of up to £30,000.

This may mean in short: rents may rise and a possible shortage of rental properties in the immediate coming onto the market.

As simply, landlords will need to ensure their properties are compliant with the regulation for any new tenancy and will no doubt seek to reclaim any costs missed or outlaid due to a delay in obtaining a compliant report or undertaking any necessary but unforeseen works.

The regulations seek to ensure that the policing is self-compliant, however, in reality this will need policing by letting agents who will be unable to market a property without the appropriate electrical report.

Is this fair on landlords? Yes, safety is key. However, it is clear that the policy is aimed at those worst offending landlords who may be referred to or portrayed by the media as "slum" landlords as, who undertake illegal electrical works. Nevertheless, all landlords must now pick up the mantle and ensure their properties are safe.

Inevitably there are going to be issues with regard to landlords seeking electricians to sign off their properties which will no doubt require works undertaking to bring them up to the current code. This may cost £100's or even £1,000's to ensure a property is compliant; but in today's world, safety is crucial and should be the primary concern.

By Scott Battram, residential property specialist, Hunters Law

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

  • icon

    Just more pressure on Landlords. I'm selling up my rental properties before this will affect me and this just helps to reinforce my decision.

  • icon
    • 24 January 2020 13:28 PM

    There are very few rental properties that won't require any remedial electrical works.
    Properties built in the past 30 years should be OK but most of the rental stock is older than this.
    It is also the stock that will not be EPC C status.
    It will be rarely viable for LL to expend on relevant works for such older properties.
    Selling them would make more economic sense.
    These ever increasing regulations are just turning previously viable properties into lemons.
    LL wishing to sell will have a limited market as few LL will wish to buy unless at a massive discount as works will still need to be done.

  • icon

    Why does this new regulation only affect the Private Rentals? Surely if it was a Safety Issue, then All rental residential properties should be signed off ... Puzzled. Does this mean that Council and HA's are excused bringing in these safety issues. If on the other hand Council and HA's are classed as Private, then what on earth is a non-private rental.

    icon

    Many older council properties are simply not safe, but councils and housing assocs are allowed to get away with it, why ?

     
  • icon

    So, has this regulation come into effect yet? Thought his was in the pipeline ?

    Matthew Payne

    Hi Sara, no it has not become statute yet.

     
icon

Please login to comment

MovePal MovePal MovePal
sign up