21^st January 2020

Landlords’ obligations to extend to electrical safety testing

A new initiative from the UK government looks set to see electrical safety testing become mandatory for every rental property in the United Kingdom. Until now it has only been compulsory for landlords of Houses in Multiple Occupation - often referred to as HMOs - to undertake electrical safety testing, but the draft Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 stipulate that the requirement will be extended to all rental properties. The current published timetable is that the regulations are likely to come into force on 1 April 2020, and in their current form they will benefit tenants everywhere.

Electrical faults are the single most common cause of domestic fires, and Andrew Ward, owner of Award Property Management, believes that the new legislation is a positive move for landlords and tenants alike. ‘As letting agents in Cambridge, we focus on best practice across all the properties we manage for our landlords,’ comments Andrew. ‘As well as ensuring that every property is maintained to a high standard both inside and out, we also work with our landlord clients to ensure that any tenant they recruit can sign their rental agreement confident that all aspects of safety have been covered. This of course includes the safety of both the electrical installation and all the appliances that the landlord places in the property. We believe that it’s in our landlords’ interests to tick all the boxes in terms of compliance, even if that means going beyond what’s actually required by law. By the same token, tenants who understand that the landlord is fully committed to their safety are more likely to view renting the property as a longer term proposition and therefore to want to provide continuity of occupation, which is beneficial to both parties.’

The draft legislation can be viewed here.

Award Property Management are letting agents in Cambridge, so if you’re looking for help and advice with electrical safety testing within your rental property, why not get in touch? We’d love to hear from you.