The private rental sector has grown rapidly over the last 15 years and there are now around 5 million rented properties in England. After many years of campaigning by electrical safety groups, such as Electrical Safety First, new rules for Landlords have been applied since last summer. At Carter Electrical we have seen some awful examples of poor wiring and electrical safety over the last 20 years so are pleased that these new regulations have been brought in.

From 1st June 2020, private landlords in England have been required to have the electrical installation in their rental properties checked by a qualified electrician to ensure that they are safe.

  • Electrical installations must have been inspected and tested prior to the start of a new tenancy from 1st July 2020
  • Checks must be carried out on any existing tenancies by 1st April 2021

These checks must then be carried out on a five yearly basis.

The Regulations do not cover electrical appliances, only the fixed electrical installations.

We recommend that landlords regularly carry out portable appliance testing (PAT) on any electrical appliance that they provide and then supply tenants with a record of any electrical inspections carried out as good practice.

Tenants are responsible for making sure that any of their own electrical appliances are safe.

Landlords must obtain a report (usually an Electrical Installation Condition Report or EICR) from the person conducting the inspection and test which explains its outcomes and any investigative or remedial work required. At Carter Electrical Installations we have all the necessary accreditations to carry out an EICR on rented properties.

Landlords must then supply a copy of this report to the tenant within 28 days of the inspection and test, to a new tenant before they occupy the premises, and to any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request for the report.

If a local authority requests it, landlords must supply them with a copy of this report within 7 days of receiving the request.

If the report requires remedial work or further investigation, landlords must provide written confirmation that the work has been carried out to their tenant and to the local authority within 28 days of completing the work.

Landlords must retain a copy of the report to give to the inspector and tester who will undertake the next inspection and test.

Below is our up to date Electrical Safety Inspection Certificate.