The government recently confirmed that its proposed Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 have been laid before Parliament.
The expected timetable for approval could see landlords having to ensure that electrical installation inspections and testing are carried out for all new tenancies in England from July 2020, and from April 1, 2021 for existing tenancies.
The Regulation will mean that landlords must ensure every fixed electrical installation is inspected and tested at least very five years by a qualified person. The resulting report will have to be supplied to each tenant in the property within 28 days of the test or inspection. The landlord must retain a copy until the next inspection.
Failure to carry out the test, or any other breaches of the Regulation, could result in the local housing authority imposing a fine of up to £30,000.
Sulets already includes this testing as part of our work with landlords and the standards that need to be achieved before we take on properties for letting. We are committed to student safety and this type of electrical testing is another way in which we deliver on that. As with the introduction of the Tenant Fees Act, Sulets is ahead of the legislation and is already delivering higher standards of care and maintenance in our properties.
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