As a landlord it is essential that you keep up with legislation in order to protect you and your tenant. The government has recently changed the electrical regulations and these will apply to new tenancies from July 2020 and existing tenancies from April 2021.
Landlords must ensure that the electrical installations in their properties are tested and inspected by an appropriately qualified electrician every 5 years and that any new alterations in the wiring system are also tested and inspected.
The documentation in respect of these tests must be freely available and shared with existing, new and prospective tenants. The local authority is also entitled to see this information and if they make a request as such, you must supply the information to them within 7 days of their request.
The information must be supplied to an existing tenant with 28 days.
If the person is a new tenant, the landlord must supply a copy of the last report before occupation by the new tenant or within 28 days to any prospective tenant.
If the report identifies any remedial or further investigation work, this must be completed within 28 days. Written confirmation of the work carried out must be provided to the tenant.
If a landlord is in breach of the regulations, the local authority can serve a remedial works notice, complete the works themselves and recover all their costs from the landlord. They can also impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000.
As a landlord, you must regularly liaise with your managing agents in order to make certain that your properties are compliant and that you are able meet the terms and conditions of your property owners insurance policy.