There is no denying safety is absolutely critical in the rental sector, and landlords must comply with a lot of regulations. We know many landlords struggle to remain in touch with regulations, and more are on their way.
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 is still to be approved by the House of Commons and the House of Lords, but it is expected to come into effect this summer.
New regulations are scheduled to be in place from July
Landlords should prepare themselves for the new regulations being in place from 1st of July 2020. All new tenancies which begin on or after the 1st of July 2020 must have an electrical certificate for the rental property. The test must be undertaken by a registered electrician.
While the majority of certificates will last for five years, in some cases, the certificate may recommend an earlier renewal date. Landlords should comply with the date which falls first.
While there is more time for landlords with existing tenancies to comply with the regulations, this shouldn’t be viewed as a chance to overlook this matter. All existing tenancies are required to comply from the 1st of April 2021.
Landlords should ensure their property is up to standard
However, if a tenant leaves the rental property in the next few weeks, landlords may have to act quickly. Just because the regulations don’t comply now, doesn’t mean this will always be the case. It is better to be prepared for circumstances changing, and the sooner landlords ensure their rental property is compliant, the sooner they can relax, while focusing on other matters.
Landlords should communicate with tenants
When a landlord receives a copy of the certificate, they should provide a copy to the tenant within 28 days. For new tenancies, the landlord should ensure the tenant receives a copy before the tenancy begins. Potential tenants have the right to request a copy of the tenancy agreement when reviewing the property.
Local authorities can request the certificate and impose fines
All landlords should ensure they comply with local council requests for a copy of the certificate, and this should be supplied in seven days. This is because local authorities have the right to impose penalties on non-compliant landlords. A fine of up to £30,000 can be imposed on landlords who fail to comply with regulations.
If the test states landlords should carry out remedial work, this should be undertaken in 28 days. Of course, if the certificate requests improvements are carried out in a shorter time-frame, landlords should comply with the date which comes first. Once improvements have been carried out, landlords should receive written confirmation. A copy of this confirmation should be provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord and looking for property management tips and guidance, please contact SC Property Management today. We have a range of services aimed at helping you manage your property and enjoy success as a landlord.
