The electrical regulations will now match the government’s tougher gas safety regulations for the PRS that were introduced in 2018.

The electrical safety regulations will firstly affect, new tenancies starting from July 1st 2020. The electrical safety regulations will affect the properties with tenancies that started before the July 1st (2020) next year from April 1st 2021.

The regulations will make sure that all electrical wiring and fixed installations in properties are checked at least every five years by qualified electricians and signed off if found fully compliant.

Copies of the reports will be handed over to the landlord/agent and the tenants, and if a local authority requests a report they will be given one as well.
However if a report highlights any non compliancy issues, then the landlord has 28 days to resolve the issue, failure to do this could result in the landlord having to pay a fine of up to £30,000.

The government has already issued new guidance on how the Electrical Safety Standards in the PRS will affect, tenants, landlords and local authorities

NAPIT the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers is providing detailed guidance for landlords, lettings agents and members.

The new legislation for the Electrical Safety Checks in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 is available to Govt Web site