The Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate is a document that proves the security of electrical installations, wiring and fuses. It’s an important element of making sure that your property is suitable to be used by humans. If you’re a landlord (or want to be one) you are legally obligation to obtain an Electrical Safety Certificate and keep current. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the obligations you have to meet, and ensure that your investment is on the right track of conformity, Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate.
What is an Electrical Safety Certificate? What is it that you need to get one? What are the things that are inspected while conducting safety checks on electrical equipment? What is the frequency you need to have the electrical infrastructure of your home tested? In this article we’ll take a look at all the information you should be aware of about Electric Safety Certifications. Let’s begin from the beginning…
What is an Electrical Safety Certificate?
An Electrical Safety Certificate is a document issued by a certified and licensed electrician. It’s used to assess your investment properties or your home’s electrical safety and make sure that it is in compliance.
An Electrical Safety Certificate is issued following the completion of the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) has been completed on a home. The Electrical Safety Certificate or EICR certificate must be maintained current and inspections must be renewed every five years.
What are the reasons why the importance of an Electrical Safety Certificate important?
An Electrical Safety Certificate is an essential part of a landlord’s legal obligation to ensure that their property is secure and suitable for human use in accordance with The Homes (Fitness to human Habitation) Act of 2018. This law helps ensure that properties that are privately rented are secure to live in throughout the duration of the tenancy.
Safety of gas and electrical appliances is a crucial concern for all homes. As per Home Office data, electrical problems are the cause of more than 10% of fires that occur in homes within the UK. If electrical wiring is not properly maintained for long periods of time, it can increase the likelihood of things that could result in electrical fires like overloaded outlets, exposed wiring or obsolete appliances.
What is the Electrical Safety Certificate Act?
There isn’t any specific law dealing with the issue and the updating of EICR certificates. However, the legislation that was enacted on June 20, 2020 is an exercising the power set out in sections 122 and 123 of Housing and Planning Act. The law applies to all rental properties beginning, as well as all private rental properties that are in use beginning.
What does these Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2021 need to be?
From April 1st, 2021, all private landlords will be required to adhere to the law which requires them to undergo regular electrical safety checks conducted by a registered electrician every few years.
The result of these mists must are given to the tenant who is occupying this property in the next 28 days. If the local authority asks for the landlord to do so, they must also provide them with the certification within 7 days.
Landlords must also be sure to keep copies of their own records, in order they’ll be able to present it to an inspector or local authority or prospective tenants, Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate.
What exactly does an EICR appear like?
There’s no set style for an EICR must follow. This can be a source that landlords are frustrated with since every electrician’s EICR report could appear slightly different. But, it’s not necessarily an issue. Landlords should just make sure that their report includes all relevant information, which we will discuss below.
What do electrical safety certification demonstrate?
To make sure the property is in compliance with law to ensure legal compliance, for legal compliance, an EICR report should include a thorough list of every check made. When potential problems or deficiencies in electrical safety are discovered the report will provide any recommended measures to correct them or enhancements that landlords have to take in order to obtain certification or consider at some point to make the premises as safe as is possible.
The goal of an electric safety check is:
Determine any dangers to safety in the home’s permanent installation (lights sockets, fixtures, lights as well as electric storage boilers etc.
Identify any improperly executed electrical project that could be possibly hazardous or risky.
Check to ensure that there are no electrical circuits or devices that are overloading.
Check that the bonding and earthling are completed in a proper manner and that there is enough resistance to cause the circuit breakers to be triggered in the case of an electrical surge.
What can be inspected and what will be tested?
The EICR is applicable to any “fixed” installations in your home. This is basically the electrical components of your infrastructure that is permanently attached to your property.
This includes:
All light fittings
Plug sockets of all types.
All external and internal wiring
The fuse boxes in the property
Any electrical appliance which is connected permanently for example, power showers, storage heaters or extractor fan
Appliances that are not fixed, such as your refrigerator washer, electric ovens do not fall into an EICR inspection. It is, however, recommended to have them checked regularly also. We’ll examine these in greater detail in the near future.
How much does the cost of an Electrical Safety Certificate UK?
Every landlord is looking to cut operating expenses and also maintaining their profit levels. Therefore, they might be a bit gloomy at the thought of the additional expense incurred through the requirement for an Electrical Safety Certificate. But, the price for EICR EICR the certificate itself (which includes the certificate) is quite low.
What is the cost of an electrician’s safety certificate cost the UK?
Different electricians charge different amounts. But, the initial costs for EICRs or Electrical Safety Certificate usually start at about PS120, plus VAT. Costs may differ depending on the amount of time your house requires of an electrician’s time to conduct the required tests and prepare their report. This could be the case for larger homes or older homes.
When electrical installations are discovered in danger or fall below the standards for electrical safety the report will provide procedures to be followed to get certified. While landlords must pay for these repairs, they’re not that significant when compared to the expense of not complying. That is what brings us back the question of.
How will you be affected if do not adhere to electrical safety rules?
Contrary to what many believe, landlords don’t have the wide profit margins many believe. Between mortgage repayments as well as agency fees, and the expense of maintenance and upkeep many landlords are earning a small income from their properties.
However, the expense associated with the Electrical Safety Certificate pales in comparison to the consequences of not complying.
In the new law, which was introduced by the local government in June of 2020, they are now given the power to fine owners of residential properties as high as of PS30,000 in case they fail conform to current electrical safety regulations.
But, the harm on your name as a property owner can be more expensive over the long run. Tenants must be aware that their landlords are going to take care of their best interests and will invest as needed to ensure that their homes are secure. There are numerous platforms, like Rate My Landlord where tenants are able to share their experiences with private landlords.
Tenants who are considering renting can be sure to check the following resources prior to making the move to a rental home. If a tenant claims that you didn’t carry required electrical safety checks for the property, you might encounter difficulties filling the home with new tenants. That’s a nightmare for every landlord!
Are there other tests you could be thinking about?
An Electrical Safety Certificate is an important expense if you’re a UK landlord. But, it’s not the only type of electrical safety certificate you can obtain.
Keep in mind that an EICR includes all “fixed” installations in your home, including your electrical sockets, lighting fixtures as well as wiring. However, these are not the only vital components of the electrical infrastructure in your home. Let’s examine the other tests might be required.
PAT Test:
It is recommended that you also take into consideration an appliance test that is portable (also called the PAT test, or) for any portable appliance located in your rental home. These certificates come from the Energy Safety foundation Electrical Safety First.
A PAT test conducted by an accredited electrician will ensure that appliances that are portable, like your electric cooker, your fridge or freezer, as well as your dryer and washing machine are in compliance with UK safety standards for electrical equipment.
A portable appliance can be anything that is plug-connected. But, don’t think that only big appliances have to be examined. Even appliances like kettles and toasters could be the cause of electrical issues. Particularly if you purchase items on the internet, since the products sold online aren’t subject to the same safety standards.
A PAT test can be fairly affordable. It generally cost approximately PS1 and PS2 for each appliance that is tested. Electrical Safety First can help you locate an electrician who is certified to conduct this test.
Electrical Safety First also has many helpful guides and other tools for UK landlords that can make the process of ensuring electrical safety more efficient.
Electrical Installation Certificate:
If you purchase a new electrical installation such as an electrical outlet that is new or lighting fixture, power shower and extractor fan you’ll have to make sure that the electrician in charge of installing it will provide you with An Electrical Installation Certificate. This, together as the Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) for minor modifications to existing installations, offers confirmation that the installation that was being considered met safety standards at the moment of its installation.
What requirements does a new electrical installation must comply with?
New electrical installations must comply with the standards laid within the 18th Edition of Wiring Regulations. They state that all new electrical installations must be secure for use in the long term. They also specify an obligation that remedial work or investigational work outlined in an EICR should be carried out as fast as possible to ensure that the work is in compliance.
