Landlords advised to tackle electrical safety before arrival of new legislation

LANDLORDS must ensure the electrical safety of tenanted properties before the likely introduction of new legislation in April.

That is the warning from Carole Charge, technical and compliance director at national estate agents Leaders, who says the Housing and Planning Act 2016 has created the legislative power to pass new rules and regulations in this area.

Carole explains: “Although the exact details are yet to be released, it is widely believed that all tenanted properties will soon be required to have an electrical installation check, while all electrical appliances will have to undergo a PAT test.

“We anticipate that, from April 2017, all properties placed on the lettings market will need evidence that they meet the latest electrical safety standards and that all appliances are safe.

“There has not yet been any indication of what the penalties may be for those landlords who do not comply, but the only way to avoid them is to guarantee the electrical safety of a property before it is let.”

Electrical safety checks and PAT tests can only be carried out by qualified electricians, who will compile a report and may also be required to carry out any repairs or maintenance work.

Carole adds: “If this legislation is implemented in April as expected, qualified electricians will be at a premium as landlords across the country respond by having the relevant checks completed.

“To avoid the possibility of a void period being caused by a delay in waiting for a busy electrician to find the time to assess a property in March or April, landlords should act now and ensure their properties meet the required standards well in advance of the rules being introduced.

“One way to ensure a tenanted property meets the electrical safety requirements – as well as all relevant legislation – is to work with a professional and reputable letting agents such as Leaders.”

For more information on electrical safety legislation or on any aspect of letting a property, contact your local Leaders branch or visit leaders.co.uk