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The background behind the requirement to provide electrical safety certificates -

The Government has long been put under pressure to bring this legislation forward by various different campaigning organisations.

Following the Dame Judith Hackitt review into the Grenfell Tower tragedy, James Brokenshire, the Secretary of State for Housing, stated that “there is nothing more important than ensuring people are safe in their own homes.

“That is why I am announcing a package of measures focused on improving building safety, having listened carefully to the concerns which have been raised.” (source: Property Industry Eye).

The impetus behind the campaign, which has been running for much of the decade, was a family who suffered a bereavement as a result of faulty wiring. Thirza Whittall and her family moved into a rented home in Portscatho in Cornwall. Mrs Whittall ran herself a bath six days into moving into the property however, according to the Daily Mail, “a faulty electric-powered, oil-filled heater and a lack of earth bonding under the enamel bath combined to turn the metal bath taps into a live electrical conductor.” She died after receiving a 175 volt shock.

At Mrs Whittall’s inquest, it came to light that the cottage they were renting had not had an electrical installation condition test carried out since 2011. The family turned this tragedy into a positive and influential campaign with the hope of protecting families in the future from such a thing happening to them.
Commenting on the introduction of the mandatory electrical safety checks, ECA technical director Mike Smith says: “We greatly welcome this new commitment to mandatory electrical safety checks, which comes into effect on 1 April 2020. This new legal duty will help to protect millions in rented accommodation across England by requiring electrical inspection and testing by a competent person, at least every five years.”

The dangers posed by electricity, in terms of both fire and electric shock, are serious. When the new Regulations are introduced this spring, tenants will be able to hold landlords to account for the safety of the electrical installations in their property. The Regulations will also encourage landlords to look after the electrical safety of their assets in the knowledge that it’s a legal requirement on every private landlord.

Electrical Safety First also welcomes the new regulations. Its technical director Martyn Allen comments: “The commitment by the government is long overdue for the dangers posed by electricity in the home to be taken as seriously as that of gas, so this legislation provides essential protection for millions.”

However, both organisations have highlighted that the legislation applies only to the private rented sector and have called for government to extend the rules to the social housing sector as soon as possible.

Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
From 1st of June 2020, (If passed) landlords will need to comply with the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.

The new regulation means, landlords must ensure electrical installation is inspected and tested, at least every five years. A qualified person must do the inspection.
Ten key points landlords need to know are:

• every fixed electrical installation is to be inspected and tested every five years.

• The inspection must be carried out by a qualified professional.

• If the inspection report indicates the next testing should take place in less than five years, the date which occurs first is the relevant date to follow.
• Landlords are required to retain a copy of the report.
• Landlords need to retain a copy of the inspection report until the next inspection is due.
• Landlords, if requested by the local authority, must provide a copy of the report to their local authority, within seven days.
• Local authorities have the power to impose a financial penalty, of up to £30,000 for proven breaches of the regulations.
• Before the commencement of a tenancy, landlords are advised to provide a copy of the inspection report, to the tenant.
• Under the new regulations, all prospective tenants are entitled to request, a copy of the inspection report.
• Remedial work should be carried out, in no more than 28 day

Can I do electrical safety inspections myself?

Landlords are required to ensure, with the force of law, the following:

Registered charity Electrical Safety First recommends that you carry out visual inspections of your property between tenancy agreements and that all electrical work done inside your properties is carried out by a registered electrician.

Whether your rental property is a standard type of property or a Home In Multiple Occupation, all checks must be carried out by a “competent person” (someone with the necessary qualifications to carry out the work) and you must keep the report given to you by that competent person. Your local authority has a right to request this documentation from you and you must provide it to them within seven days (source: Residential Landlords Association).

Other work offer by electricians:
There are many other types of job offered by electricians to landlords and to residential home owners, the most popular of which we list below with price guidelines to help you with budgeting. All quotes given below assume a like for like replacement, the use of white plastic finishes on a job (not decorative finishes), and that no repairs to carpets and flooring are carried out as well as any decorating or painting.

House re-wiring
Possibly the biggest home improvement job that can be carried out by an electrician, re-wiring your home replaces all the out-of-date or faulty wiring which is responsible for 12,500 house fires a year and 750 serious injuries (source: Electrician Courses 4 U). Most electricians recommend that you get your home rewired once every 20 to 25 years.

Re-wiring a property with 3 bedrooms costs between £2,500 and £4,500 – it generally takes around 6 days for your electrician and his or her colleagues to complete the work.

Your electrician will renew all the wiring in your home including wiring to the consumer unit and the electricity meter. In nearly all cases, the consumer unit will be replaced as will all the switches, sockets, and outlets in your property. Prior to sign-off, your electrician will perform a thorough circuit test and then, when passed, issue a final installation certificate.

Fuse box replacement
You may find that, following an electrical safety inspection, that you are recommended to install a new fuse box in order to be compliant with your duty of care and with health and safety laws.

To replace a fuse box, otherwise known as a consumer unit, you should budget for a charge of between £325 and £600 depending on where you are in the country.

Bathroom extractor fan installations
Extractor fans are ideal for removing the damp air which causes mould in bathrooms, especially those bathrooms which have no windows. The prevention of mould in a property is important for both residents and landlords, landlords in particular who may struggle to rent out a poorly ventilated property at risk of the development of mould.

If you want to replace an existing extractor fan, you should expect to pay between £125 and £225. To install a new extractor fan, you should expect to pay double. These prices do not include the provision of the extractor fan itself – you’ll have to buy that.

Moving switches or sockets
Moving switches or socket is one of the simplest jobs an electrician can do and it takes the least amount of time out of your day while they’re doing the work.

For like-for-like changing of a power socket, like-for-like replacement of a light switch, or relocating a light switch, you should expect to pay between £75 and £145 depending on the location of your home and the time needed to do the job.

To relocate a switch or a socket, you should expect to pay between £175 and £300 and to add an additional socket, quotes will likely range between £150 and £275.