As if landlords don’t have enough to
contend with, new rules on Electrical Inspection Condition Reports (EICR) kick
in next month.
Final guidance from the government on this
legislation is expected any day now, but here’s an overview.
· Every fixed electrical installation in a
private rental property must be inspected and comply with the 18th Edition
of the Wiring Regulations.
· This kicks in on July 1, 2020, for new
tenancies and April 1, 2021, for existing tenancies.
· Inspections must be carried out every five
years by a “qualified person” (more on that in a minute).
· If a problem is identified in the EICR, work to
remedy it must be done within 28 days (or less if it’s urgent). Landlords need
written confirmation that the work has been completed.
· A copy of the electrical safety report must be
supplied to a tenant before they move into the property. If an inspection is
carried out during a tenancy, the report should be provided to the tenant within
28 days of its completion.
What does
“qualified mean?” we hear you say
This will be clarified in the guidance.
But it’s safe to assume that it doesn’t mean a mate’s brother’s ex-flatmate who
likes watching DIY SOS. Industry insiders interpret it to mean an
electrician with Electrotechnical Assessment
Specifications qualifications. So, a
professional with an industry recognised apprenticeship or Level 3 Certificates
in Installing, Testing and Ensuring Compliance of Electrical Installations in
Dwellings.
What if a
landlord fails to comply?
It’s going to hurt. Breach the new rules
and face a fine of up to £30,000.
This all sounds
complicated
Responsible landlords who keep their
properties in good condition probably won’t get any nasty surprises. The rogue
ones might be in for a shock though.
Tips from a
sparky
Oliver Townsend, an electrician, who
owns Townsend Electrical in East Sussex, has these tips for landlords about the
EICR process.
If it’s too good
to be true…
It probably is. If someone offers to inspect
for next to nothing, ask yourself: ‘what’s in it for them?’ Oliver has heard of
some electricians planning to use the EICR process as a loss leader. What they
lose in carrying out the inspection, they plan to make up by diagnosing and
carrying out expensive repair works.
Now most electricians are good people
and wouldn’t do this. But be aware that the cheapest price doesn’t always represent
the best value.
Are they registered?
Oliver recommends going with an
electrician registered with a governing body such as the NICEIC.
Other organisations to look out for include NAPIT,
STROMA and the ECA.
Word of mouth
Ideally, you’re looking for an
electrician who is registered with one of the above organisations and
has a glowing reputation in your local Tunbridge Wells. So, seek out word of
mouth recommendations.
“A good letting agent will have built up
business relationships with reliable tradespeople including electricians, so
ask them for advice,” says Oliver.
“It’s much better – and less stressful
– to go with someone you can trust.”
Don’t
dither
If
you already have an existing tenancy agreement, April 1, might seem like a long
way off. But as this deadline looms, electricians will be in hot demand,
especially good ones.
Also
remember that if you need to get remedial works done, this will take time. Give
yourself a little bit of breathing space to ensure any last-minute panic and
avoid looking like an April Fool next year.
At Martin
& CO we’ll be reviewing all the government guidance on the new safety
regs as it comes in and can advise landlords through the new EICR process. If
you’d like to know more, get in touch, we’re here to help.
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