24 Feb How often should Northampton landlords have the electrics in their properties tested?

Eicrtesting.com based in Northampton and the Midlands, offer advice for landlords on How often you should be getting the electrics in your properties fully tested (Known as EICR)

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 Electrical Inspections –EICR – Landlords New Regulations Laid in Parliament

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (“MHCLG”) has recently introduced regulations relating to landlord requirements for eicr testing aka electrical installation inspections and 5 year testing on private rented sector (“PRS”) properties.

Following its consultation and announcement in July 2019 that tenancies in PRS buildings would soon require EICR electrical inspections and 5 year testing, the MHCLG has announced that it laid new regulations in Parliament last week to govern this mandatory electrical testing, which will commence from July 2020. Further detail will follow on this as it becomes available.

Whether you’re the landlord of one or several properties, you have a duty of care to your tenants – and that means providing homes that are safe for them to live in.

An Electrical Installation Condition Report – or EICR –electrical safety test, can help you fulfill that duty of care and your legal obligations, by making sure the electrical systems in a building are well maintained.

Much like servicing a boiler, or an MOT for a car, the electrics in a residential building need to be checked regularly for any signs of wear or deterioration. EICR for landlords provides the peace of mind – and documented proof – that the electrical installations are safe.

But just how often should you have an EICR on the properties you let?
There are three points at which landlords are advised to employ the services of a professional electrician for an electrical safety check.

• EICR for a new property – For landlords who buy to let, a property is like any purchase or investment and it makes sense to know exactly what you’re getting before parting with any money. This can prevent unforeseen costs down the line. A general homebuyer’s survey does not include an inspection of the electrics, yet faulty electrics could cost thousands of pounds to fix – not to mention the risk to safety.
• At change of occupancy – You may have had the electrics inspected at the time of buying a new property, but it is also recommended to get them checked again when one tenant leaves and before a new one arrives. This will enable you to carry out a full safety check to make sure nothing has deteriorated or been damaged during the previous tenancy. It also provides documented proof, both for yourself and the tenant, that the electrics were inspected at the beginning of their tenancy, which can be crucial in the event of any accidents or incidents occurring.
• Every five years – If there is no change of occupancy in the meantime, EICR for landlords is recommended every five years. EICRs will look for any damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions or non-compliances with present day safety standards and should be checked every five years to make sure nothing has changed which would cause concern.

EICR for landlords – the legal requirement
Although at the moment an EICR Report in itself is not a legal requirement- a bill is going through parliament to rectify this- landlords still have a duty of care to their tenants under The Landlords and Tenants Act 1985. This includes making sure the electrics in a rented property are safe at the beginning of a tenancy and maintained in a safe condition throughout.

At EICR Testing, all our engineers are trained to City & Guilds 2395 Inspection and Testing Level, specifically for the periodic testing and inspection of electrical installations.

For a tailored quote or just to get some more information surrounding an EICR test for your property, please Contact the EICR Testing team.

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01604529018

Eicrtesting.com is a subsidiary of Able Electrics.