10/02/2021
Electrical Safety Certificate (EICR)
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 were passed by Parliament on 18 March 2020. The new regulations apply in England to all new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.
By April 1, 2021, there will be mandatory electrical safety checks in all rental properties with existing tenancies, and safety checks would then have to be done at five-yearly intervals.
Copies of the report will have to be provided to prospective tenants on request and given to new tenants before they move in.
Local councils can also request a copy of the report, which must be provided within seven days and any remedial work required must be done within 28 days, or sooner if specified in the report.
Enforcement is by the local authority, which can order that work be done, failure could result in a civil penalty of up to £30,000.
What is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
It is a periodic inspection report on a property’s safety relating to its fixed wiring. This report has also been labelled as the ‘Landlord Safety Test’ or ‘Homebuyers Test’ and they are conducted by qualified electricians. The main purpose of an EICR is to guarantee the safety of the residents and to ensure they are not susceptible to electrical shocks and/or fires. It will show if anything is not safe, indicating whether remedial work is an obligation or simply recommended.
Your EICR report will show:
If any electrical circuits; or equipment are overloaded.
Find any potential electric shock risks and fire hazards.
Identify defective electrical work.
Highlight any lack of earthing or bonding.
Why do i need an EICR?
You cannot see electricity and, in many cases, you cannot view the conduits or cables that use electricity because they are often hidden inside walls, and consumer units are located in cupboards, where they are not immediately visible. It is unsurprising that we often forget to check the condition of our electrical installations for damage or signs of wear and tear. Faulty and old wiring is one of the main causes of electrical fires in the home but you can reduce the risk of a fire by regularly checking your cables, switches, and sockets, to see that they are in good condition.
