When you decide to become a Landlord, you can often be swamped with the tasks you need to complete as well as all the legal jargon that comes along with it. Being a landlord is no easy task, so BES Electrical have put together a handy guide to make your lives easier. BES Electrical have been working with landlords for many years to ensure the properties they rent out are fully compliant with all electrical regulations and that they are safe for renters to live in. If you are a landlord looking for a reliable local electrician to support with your property list, call BES Electrical today to see how we can help you.
Being a landlord isn’t easy!
The housing market today has seen unprecedented increases as we all decide that living the busy city life is no longer ideal. We can work from home and for that reason, we are able to move further afield and enjoy the luxury of slower paced life whilst keeping our fast paced city jobs. Many movers have decided that renting is the best way of finding out more about an area before they decide to move their full time and rental properties are like gold dust in the home counties currently.
Being a private landlord throughout this market shift is a great way of earning a solid income, however, it’s not as easy as just purchasing a property and finding prospective tenants to live in it. There are many electrical safety standards and regulations, including mandatory testing that must take place periodically to ensure that the property you are renting out is safe for tenants and that there is no risk of injury that could be caused by the electrics in the house. Landlords of course are not responsible for the risk of injury through tenant carelessness, however if there is a fault found with the electrics and wiring, the landlord could be facing serious consequences including fines and prison time.
Guidance for landlords on the mandatory requirements and regulations can be difficult to understand as there is so much information on the internet. It can be difficult to know where to go and who to turn to, which is why many landlords decide to contract services with a local electrician like BES Electrical, who are qualified to know what needs to be done in the home and when.
What is EICR and how does it affect a landlord?
The term EICR is becoming more mainstream but what does it actually mean and what does it mean for landlords?
An EICR is an Electrical Installation Condition Report. An EICR is designed to check that all electrics and components within domestic properties are functioning correctly and that any and all faults are identified and corrected. EICR is a legal requirement that should be carried out by a qualified person and periodic inspections are mandatory in order to ensure your property is in a fully functioning and safe condition.
If a landlord fails to comply with the mandatory requirements expected of them, they could face heavy consequences including a financial penalty and (if they ignore persistent communication) even prison time. If the court finds that a rented property is not fit for habitation due to the landlords negligence, the landlord could be required to make the improvements to the property and even in some circumstances, pay compensation to the tenants.
Mandatory inspections landlords must comply with
There is a lot for a domestic landlord to consider when renting out a property. Thats why BES Electrical have put together a handy checklist below to ensure you are complying with all legal requirements:
- Inspection on sockets and wiring (EICR) prior to tenants moving in
- 5 yearly inspection on electrical installations to include wiring, sockets, light fittings, fuse boxes, showers (if electric) and the extractor fans
- Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) testing (recommended but not mandatory)
- Boiler maintenance prior to tenants moving in
- Yearly boiler maintenance
- Hot water system maintenance
- Yearly gas safety checks
Landlords are required to provide proof to the tenants, by way of a certificate, once the electrical safety checks have been carried out and should keep a copy in their files for as long as possible in case any issues are brought to court.
You may also be interested in
10 home electrical challenges and how BES Electrical can help
Commercial Electrician – BES Electrical FAQs
Finding a local domestic Electrician you can trust
BES Electrical – supporting Landlords across the counties
When you choose BES Electrical to carry out your mandatory landlord inspections, you will have peace of mind that all electrical works carried out in domestic properties are completed safely, to an incredibly high standard and competent, qualified person. BES Electrical work with professional landlords to ensure all rental homes are compliant and keep tenants safe throughout their contract.
For more information about BES Electrical or to find out when we can help with your rental property, give us a call today so you can sleep soundly tonight.
