Electrical Safety Checks for Buy to Let Homes

Buy-to-let landlords must switch on to electrical safety in rented homes as the fifth anniversary of Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) has just passed.

The anniversary means landlords should check their EICRs are up-to-date, or they could face fines.

The reports are checks on a private rented home's electrical safety that must be carried out every five years, and the first reports issued in June 2020 are coming to an end and need updating.

EICRs can only be issued by a competent and qualified electrician, says the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation, one of the trade bodies for electricians who can carry out the checks.

Besides the NICEIC, electricians belonging to NAPIT - the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers - can also complete the checks.

How EICRs work

The EICR test can have one of two outcomes:

• A satisfactory test or results coded C3 mean landlords need not carry out any electrical installation work until the recommended date for the next EICR.
• An unsatisfactory test, with results coded C1, C2 or F1, must be addressed and rectified immediately as electrical installations at the property may be unsafe. Any remedial work should be completed within 28 days.

A landlord renting a home without a valid EICR could face fines of up to £30,000.

Landlords must give a copy of the property's EICR to renters before they move in. Existing tenants must have theirs within 28 days of the report being carried out.

Local councils are responsible for enforcing the regulations.

Finding a qualified electrician

The competent person carrying out the EICR must be registered with a Full Scope Electrical Competent Person Scheme or registration body which monitors and regularly assesses the electrician to ensure their competency and to check that they are covered by public liability and professional indemnity insurance.

Paul Collins, Technical Director at the NICEIC, said: "In 2020, landlords adapted to the new Electrical Safety Standards. Now, five years on, it's essential they revisit their records and arrange for updated EICRs where needed. This isn't just about legal compliance -- it's about protecting tenants and property from electrical risks."

"Landlords have a duty to maintain safe homes. A valid EICR offers peace of mind that your property meets safety standards and complies with the law."

He adds that the NICEIC website can help landlords find a suitable electrician locally by entering a postcode.

NAPIT publishes a checklist to follow when appointing an EICR tester.

Nick Hayler, Chair of the Electrical Safety in the Home Group, to which NAPIT belongs, said: "The checklist was created for landlords to highlight the necessary checks needed to find a qualified and competent person."

"This will give confidence to landlords, tenants and electricians that the work is being carried out correctly and safely by people with the necessary skills and experience."

EICRs are only required for private rented homes in England.

For more information, the housing ministry publishes a guide to electrical standards in the private rented sector.