picture of a smoking lightbulb with the text "landlords - are your electrics compliant?"

Here at Definitive Electrical we have noticed an increase in calls from landlords, unsure of how regularly they need to obtain safety certificates (or EICRs) for their rented properties. Because we have a commitment to providing accurate and easy-to-understand information to our customers, covering all aspects of electrical installations and safety, we decided it was time to provide a quick guide to the regulations surrounding electrical installations for landlords.  

What do the latest regulations say? 

In June 2020, the Government introduced new regulations surrounding electrical safety for rented properties. These new regulations mean that landlords are now required to have the electrical installations in a rented property inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every 5 years. The regulations were brought in as part of the government’s wider aim to improve safety in all residential premises, but especially private rented premises.  

What needs to be tested and how? 

Landlords are required to obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) from a qualified electrician. The report covers the fixed electrical parts of the property, such as the wiring, fuse box (or consumer unit), light fittings and plug sockets as well as any permanently connected equipment such as showers or extractor fans. During the inspection, the electrician will look for any faulty or damaged installations, including where the electrics are overloaded or not protected by adequate earthing. Often older properties will have electrics which aren’t fully in line with current electrical safety guidance – whilst this doesn’t automatically mean it is unsafe or unsatisfactory, it does mean there is likely to be room for improvement. 

The inspection and report don’t cover any household appliances such as fridges and washing machines and so on. You can also get these tested through PAT (portable appliance) testing but they aren’t covered by these regulations.  

What are the requirements for landlords? 

Any landlord must ensure that the following requirements are met: 

  • The electrics in a rented property must be inspected and tested at least every 5 years 

  • The existing tenant must receive a copy of the EICR within 28 days 

  • Any new tenant must receive a copy of the EICR before they move into the property 

  • Any remedial work or further investigative work, as highlighted by the safety report, should be completed within 28 days of the issue date of the report – or less if specified by the report 

How can Definitive Electrical help? 

Our engineers at Definitive Electrical are all thoroughly experienced in carrying out inspections of electrical installations and providing EICRs for landlords across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Because our prices are fairly agreed and communicated to the customer, you can be assured that you will be getting an expert and unbiased report into the safety of the electrics in your rented property, and we aim to supply the finished report within 48 hours of the inspection.  

When you choose Definitive Electrical for your EICR requirements, you can rest assured that you and your tenants are in safe hands.