Landlord Advice

Electrical Installation Condition Reports

From 1st July 2020
All new or renewed tenancies (including both fixed term and statutory periodic renewals) that commence on or after 1stJuly 2020, must have a ‘satisfactory’ EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) in place before the new tenancy or renewal can start. You will be required to give a copy of the report to the tenant before the tenancy commences.

From 1st April 2021
All current tenancies, regardless of when they started, must have a ‘satisfactory’ EICR (electrical installation condition report) in place. You will be required to issue a copy of the report to your tenant within 28 days of the inspection taking place and to carry out any remedial work within that time, or sooner if required by the report.

These reports must then be carried out on a 5 yearly basis. made available to both new and retained tenants.

What is classed as ‘satisfactory’?
‘Satisfactory’ means that there must be no Code 1 or Code 2 faults (showing the need for remedial works) recorded on the certificate, the EICR must have been carried out by a qualified person and must meet the 2018 edition of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018). The record must not be either older than five years, nor older than the recommended re-testing date shown on a previous EICR, whichever is the earlier.

Providing reports to the local authority
In the case of all inspections, if remedial works are carried out, you must provide the relevant local authority with a copy of the EICR and evidence of the remedial works within 28 days of the work being completed. If the local authority requests a report, even where remedial works were not required, you must provide a copy within 7 days of the request.

Local authorities will have the power to serve notice (with a statutory deadline) to ensure remedial action is taken by the landlord, where necessary. If a landlord still fails to act then the local authority can access the property and remedy the issue, which will then be charged to the landlord.

Penalties may be issued of up to £30,000 per breach of this new legislation, where a landlord does not comply.

Act now
We are anticipating high demand for these inspections, and have already seen an increase in EICR jobs being booked in. Please don’t delay in contacting us as we will become very busy as the deadlines approach.

Despite current restrictions in place due to Covid-19, the Government has decided not to postpone the introduction of this legislation. We are currently available to perform EICRs and any remedial works.

You can find further information from the Electrical Safety Council ebsite, including details of what’s included in an Electrical Installation Condition Report. The Electrical Safety Council also recommend that you visually inspect your property every year.

A visual inspection includes checking for the following potential hazards:

Fusebox (Consumer unit)

All covers are in place and fitted correctly (a damaged cover could lead to a shock or fire risk)
Residual Current Device (RCD)* trips when the test (or ‘T’) button is pressed
Combustible materials are not stored on or near the Fusebox (e.g. paint, newspapers, cleaning fluids)

Sockets and lighting

Sockets, lights and switches are securely fixed and in good condition (e.g. not broken or cracked)
Sockets, lights and switches show no signs of overheating (e.g. blackening, scorch marks )
Flexible cables are not in a position where they are likely to suffer damage (e.g. under carpets or rugs, passing through door/ window openings)
Sockets are not overloaded with too many appliances (e.g. inappropriate use of adaptors and/or extension leads)

Electrical appliances

Appliances are not subject to a product recall (Visit www.esc.org.uk/recall to check the appliances in your property)
All covers are in place and in a satisfactory condition (a damaged casing could lead to a shock or fire risk)
Flexible cables are in a satisfactory condition and show no signs of deterioration (e.g. fraying/ splitting)
Flexible cables are securely attached to the appliance and plug

Additional safety checks

Smoke alarm sounds when the test button is operated
Carbon monoxide alarm sounds when the test button is operated

*An RCD is designed to protect against the risks of electrocution and fire caused by earth faults.

A checklist form can be downloaded here. You can download an advice guide 'The Landlords Guide to Electrical Safety' which sets out your legal obligations and recommendations for keeping your tenants and properties safe.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

Landlords are legally obligated to get an Electrical Installation Condition Report every five years where the house is in multiple occupation, e.g. two or more flats within one property, shared accommodation, bed sits etc. A periodic inspection report showing the property continues to be electrically safe must be available.

The full legal definition of a HMO is contained within the Housing Act 2004 which can be found on the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) website.

Fire Safety

To safeguard your tenants from the risk of fire, you will need to ensure that there is a suitable fire detection and fire alarm system, which should be regularly tested and maintained.

A properly installed and maintained fire alarm will alert occupants to a fire in its early stages, allowing them to get to a place of safety before escape routes become blocked by smoke or fire. The system should be designed to wake people who are sleeping and to alert them to fire in any hidden areas - such as boiler rooms, storerooms, cellars or lofts (if they contain equipment such as solar PV inverters or central heating boilers) - before the fire affects the escape route.

Loose connections in electrical equipment and parts of the electrical installation (such as sockets) can result in fire. Incorrectly selected fuses or circuit-breakers can also lead to overheated cables.

Many fires in the home start in the kitchen and are usually caused by cooking appliances. Other causes of fire include cigarettes and candles, and clothes being hung over heaters to dry.

For houses with multiple occupation (HMO) requirements are greater than in a property being rented to a single family or to two individuals as statistically fires are more likely to start in HMO properties and the harms are greater.

Some of the fire safety requirements you may be asked to provide within the property are as follows:

a mains wired, interlinked fire alarm system provided throughout the property
a minimum of 30 minutes fire resistant to be provided through the means of escape at the property
locks on all exit doors from the property to be able to be operated without the use of a key
fire blanket provided in the kitchen
fire extinguishers provided in the hallways
means of escape route to be kept clear
emergency light on each floor and on each turn of communal hallways

However the requirements for HMOs vary from Local Authority to Local Authority so if you own or manage a HMO, it is always best to contact your local authority for their requirements.

Call us on 07515145608 or send us a message to arrange an appointment. View our recent work here.