EICR regulations are changing: What do I need to know?
Electrical safety are changing next month. NRLA Chief Innovation Officer and Safe2 founder James Kent outlines what’s going to be happening – and what you need to do to stay compliant.
November will see the introduction of amendments to electrical safety rules affecting the private rented sector (PRS) are set to be introduced this November – with increased fines for getting things wrong among the changes up ahead
What exactly is the EICR?
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) inspections are carried out to assesses the safety and condition of electrical installations in your rental properties and identifying any repairs or improvements needed to keep tenants safe.
In the vast majority of cases they need to be carried out every five years. The work must be done by a qualified electrician, who will examine wiring, sockets, fuse boards and any other electrical parts in the property.
If the report identifies issues, they must be rectified by a qualified professional within 28 days or sooner as specified in the report, before a certificate can be provided.
When all the electrics meet the standard proof, in the form of an EICR certificate, is provided to you to give to the tenant.
What's going to change?
The new changes that will affect PRS landlords are:
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The introduction of higher fines: The maximum civil penalty for breaching the rules will increase from £30,000 to £40,000.
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A new legal defence if tenants won’t let you in: Landlords will have a defence from prosecution if they can establish that the tenant is refusing them access for the inspection to take place. The legislation also explicitly states that landlords will not be required to start legal proceedings to secure entry to be able to establish this defence.
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A new duty on councils to serve remedial notices: Local authorities will have a duty to serve remedial notices on landlords where the EICR indicates the property is failing.
When will these changes come in?
The adjustments affecting PRS landlords will come in from 1st November this year and are part of a broader package of reforms that will extend the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) regulations to social housing.
Is there anything else I need to be aware of?
The EICR rules were introduced for new tenancies in the PRS back in 2020 and extended to all tenancies in 2021.
With EICR certificates valid for a maximum of five years, it is worth double checking whether yours is up for renewal in the coming months.
It’s all worth bearing in mind that arranging any necessary inspections in good time will help avoid any delays or void periods.
You should also keep records and certificates organised, so you can prove compliance quickly if asked by tenants or councils.
More information
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Safe2 is the NRLA's one stop shop for all things compliance and can organise your EICR inspections and certificates, as well as arranging any repairs. It will also remind you when your renewal date comes around, offering you additional peace of mind. For more information click here.
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The association’s award-winning training academy also runs an Electrical Safety for Landlords course for anyone that wants to find out more.
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James will be hosting a panel conversation on innovating new hi-tech solutions to common housing problems at this year’s UK Housing Conference, covering everything from modular construction to digital property management. The annual NRLA event will be held in Liverpool on November 5th. To book your tickets click here.
