Electrical Safety Standards Guidance - Update
Published 05/06/2020
The Electrical Safety Standards Guidance means that the inspection and test of the installation is carried out in accordance with the eighteenth edition of the writing regulations. This applies to:
- New private tenancies entered into on or after 1st July 2020
- All existing private tenancies from 1st April 2021
What should private landlords do now?
- Ensure that electrical safety standards are met when the property is occupied during a tenancy
- Ensure that every fixed electrical installation at the property is inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified individual
- Ensure that the first inspection and testing are carried out before new tenancies commence on or after 1st July 2020 and by 1st April 2021 for existing tenancies
NAPIT and propertymark have answered key questions regarding the new guidance. We have picked out those that will be of use to our clients below, but if you want to see their full list of guidance click here: https://www.napit.org.uk/downloads/Electrical-Safety-in-the-Private-Rented-Sector-Regulations-Guidance-for-Landlords-NAPIT.pdf
Key questions answered (Source: arla/ propertymark):
- "What should I do if I have an existing report?"
- "Do the regulations apply to Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO)?"
- "Who can carry out the checks?"
- Adequate insurance. This should include at least £2 million public liability insurance and £250,000 professional
- Indemnity insurance
- A qualification covering the current version of the wiring regulations (BS 7671)
- A qualification covering the periodic inspection, testing, and certification of electrical installations
- At least two years’ experience in carrying out periodic inspection and testing”
- "How are the new regulations impacted by COVID-19?"