Legal requirements for electrical installations

Home Householder Regulations What regulations affect electrical work? Find a Contractor. Platinum Promise. Why choose us? Our Schemes. About Us. Building Compliance Certificate Check. Renewable Energy. Wall of Shame. Contact Us. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.

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The C3 classification code does not indicate remedial work is required, but only that improvement is recommended. The Classification codes best practice guide produced by Electrical Safety First has further practical guidance on classification codes. If a property is newly built or has been completely rewired, it should have an Electrical Installation Certificate known as an EIC.

Landlords can provide a copy of the EIC to tenants and, if requested, the local authority. The landlord will then not be required to carry out further checks or provide a report for 5 years after the EIC has been issued, as long as they have complied with their duty or duties under the Regulations. If the report shows that remedial work or further investigation is required, as set out above, landlords must complete this work within 28 days or any shorter period if specified as necessary in the report.

Landlords must then provide written confirmation that the work has been carried out to their tenant and to the local authority within 28 days. If a local authority has reasonable grounds to believe that a landlord is in breach of one or more of the duties in the Regulations, they must serve a remedial notice on the landlord requiring remedial action. Should a landlord not comply with the notice, the local authority may arrange for remedial action to be taken themselves.

The local authority can recover the costs of taking the action from the landlord. The landlord has the right of appeal against a demand for costs. A landlord is not in breach of their duty to comply with a remedial notice, if the landlord can show they have taken all reasonable steps to comply. A landlord could show reasonable steps by keeping copies of all communications they have had with their tenants and with electricians as they tried to arrange the work, including any replies they have had.

Landlords may also want to provide other evidence they have that the installation is in a good condition while they attempt to arrange works. This could include the servicing record and previous safety reports. If the report indicates that urgent remedial action is required, and the landlord has not carried this out within the period specified in the report, the local authority may with the consent of the tenant arrange to carry out remedial work.

In the first instance, landlords have 21 days to make written representations to a local authority against a remedial notice and the intention to impose a financial penalty. The remedial notice is suspended until the local authority considers representations.

The local authority must inform the landlord of their decision within 7 days. Appeals are made to the First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber. See more information on the First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber.

Regulation 3 requires that landlords have the electrical installation inspected and tested at intervals of no longer than every 5 years.

Electrical safety standards the 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations must be met throughout the period of that tenancy. Existing installations that have been installed in accordance with earlier editions of the Wiring Regulations may not comply with the 18th edition in every respect.

This does not necessarily mean that they are unsafe for continued use or require upgrading. It is good practice for landlords with existing reports to check these reports and decide whether the electrical installation complies with electrical safety standards.

Landlords might also wish to contact the inspector who provided a report to ensure the installation complies with electrical safety standards. Reports can also recommend improvement, in addition to requiring remedial work. Landlords can provide a copy of the EIC to tenants and, if requested, the local housing authority.

If a private tenant has a right to occupy a property as their only or main residence and pays rent, then the Regulations apply. To help us improve GOV. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Cookies on GOV. UK We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

Accept additional cookies Reject additional cookies View cookies. Hide this message. Home Housing, local and community Housing Rented housing sector Electrical safety standards in the private rented sector: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Which rented properties do the Electrical Safety Regulations apply to? The inspection 6. The report 7. Remedial work 8. Further questions Print this page. Introduction The majority of landlords are proactive when it comes to ensuring the safety of their tenants and make a welcome contribution to the housing market.

Landlords of privately rented accommodation must: Ensure national standards for electrical safety are met. Ensure the electrical installations in their rented properties are inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at an interval of at least every 5 years.