Do Landlords in London Need an Electrical Safety Certificate?
Landlords in London and across England have a legal responsibility to ensure that the electrical installations, fixed electrics and provided electrical appliances in their properties are completely safe. For private rental properties, it is your responsibility as a landlord to have regular electrical safety checks and testing undertaken and any required remedial works carried out.
This is all part of the EICR process whereby an approved electrical company carries out a domestic EICR, then undertakes any necessary remedial works and issues the landlord with a Satisfactory EICR that lasts for 5 years. This is your landlord’s safety certificate, and is an important part of any tenancy agreement.
EICR Certificate Landlord Regulations
A satisfactory landlord EICR certificate is a legal requirement for private rental properties. Landlords in London and across the UK are required by law to hold a current electrical safety certificate.
Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate
When it comes to Landlords Electrical Safety Certificates it’s important to obtain the correct
documentation, carried out by a qualified and reputable electrician. To meet required regulations, you will need a Satisfactory Domestic Electrical Installation Condition Report.
Because it is the landlord’s responsibility for electrical testing in rental properties, having a Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate will not only mean you’re legally compliant, but it will also provide the peace of mind for your tenants that they are occupying a safe property.
This includes any fuse boxes, wiring, sockets and switches, as well as any electrical appliances you’ve provided.
A landlord electrical safety test will reassure you that everything is safe for a new tenant, and regular electrical safety inspections will give you peace of mind that everything is as it should be for the duration of their tenancy.
As a landlord it’s vital that you don’t overlook the importance of electrical testing. While being a landlord can be highly rewarding, it’s not a role to be taken lightly and it’s very important to be aware of what electrical certificates for landlords are needed.
You must comply with the rules and regulations around electrical safety in the private rental sector, so that you provide a safe property for your tenants to enjoy and ensure you are complying with your legal obligations. Failure to meet these electrical safety checks and requirements could mean a fine of up to £30,000 and violating your insurance, or even worse, a banning order for serious and repeated offences.
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Is the Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate a Legal Requirement?
New Government regulations came into force on 1st June 2020 regarding electrical safety certificates for landlords. These regulations make it mandatory for landlords within the private rented sector to have their electrical installations tested every five years, including wiring, sockets and switches as well as electrical appliances you have provided.
However, more frequent testing may be required for older installations or if any remedial action has been recommended by your electrician. Additionally, upon change of tenancy within 5 years a visual inspection is required.
Furthermore, any electrical equipment provided under the terms of the lease should be PAT or FAT tested.
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Which Properties Need a Landlord Safety Certificate?
As a landlord, there are many different kinds of property which require a landlord electrical safety certificate. If you own any domestic properties that you lease out to others, such as HMOs, then you will need a Domestic EICR, to be fully compliant with regulations and ensure your properties have met all electrical safety checks.
This applies to all properties within the private rental sector, including:
– Terraced houses
– Single homes
– Flats and apartments
– HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupancy)
Our Services for Landlords
We offer comprehensive electrical safety inspection services, same day remedial works upon prior agreement, and electrical safety tests for landlords across London and the Southeast. So, you can rest assured that your properties will be kept up-to-date with all current safety standards to meet regulatory requirements.
With all of Hexo Electrical Testing’s electrical safety certificates for landlords, our inspectors and engineers are fully trained, insured, and qualified to ensure we provide you with the superior service you need to guarantee that your property is thoroughly safe. If you’re looking to buy or sell a house, then it’s advisable to arrange a homebuyer’s electrical report to give you the whole picture as to the safety of the electrics and identify faults and problems.
What Electrical Certificates do Landlords Need?
We provide all types of landlord electrical safety certificates to ensure you can keep your tenants safe and to meet all current regulations. A landlord EICR certificate ensures you, and your tenants, have complete peace of mind when it comes to your electrics.
Each year, electrical faults trigger more than half of all accidental household fires. Not only do these pose a huge threat of injury and to life itself, but a fire can also devastate a family with the loss of personal items.
All in all, avoiding any type of major incident within a home should be of paramount importance, and having a landlord electrical safety certificate is a crucial part of ensuring safety.
Why is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) Important
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR certificate for landlords) identifies any defects with the fixed electrical installation within a building. Also known as a ‘Landlord Safety Test’ or sometimes a ‘Homebuyer’s Test, having an EICR carried out means that you can be assured that your property’s electrics and wiring are completely safe. Whether you are a homeowner or a landlord, electrical safety is a priority.
One of our electrical inspectors will attend and carry out the EICR visit which highlights any damage, defects, or non-compliances with the sockets/switches, wiring, and consumer units.
We will then provide an itemised quotation for any remedial works, and once you instruct us one of our experienced engineers will visit and carry out the repairs to make the property compliant.
A landlord electrical safety certificate can be arranged at a time to suit you and your tenants. As of 1st June 2020, as a landlord you are legally required to carry out an electrical safety check every five years, or sooner if your safety report specifies it.
Landlord PAT Testing
As well as a landlord EICR certificate, you may need to arrange PAT Testing. While this is not a specific legal requirement, it is a legal requirement for landlords to maintain the electrical appliances they provide as part of the lease.
PAT testing checks the electrical condition and safety of portable electrical appliances such as a kettle or a toaster. We will provide you with a PAT Register which details the Pass/Fail status of the appliances tested, and with clear PAT Test labels, you will know which appliances have been tested and are deemed safe.
Landlord FAT Testing
As well as an EICR and PAT certificate, you may also need FAT Testing carried out at your rental property. FAT Testing checks the electrical safety and condition of any fixed appliances in the property such as a hard-wired electrical hob or an electrical water heater.
These appliances usually have an isolator or switch on the wall near where they are located, and FAT is usually a more complex process than PAT Testing. Hexo Electrical Testing can provide all your FAT Testing certificates so you know you’re completely covered.
Consumer Unit Upgrades
A consumer unit is a modern name for the fuse box in a property. The consumer unit is the main control and safety device for the property’s electrical supply. It is the point at which the electrical supply is divided into separate circuits in the property and where circuit protective devices are provided.
Out-dated fuse boxes can be life-threatening. Therefore, it’s important for landlords to be aware of the age and current condition of their property’s fuse box and consider a consumer unit upgrade if necessary. We can confirm if your fuse box or consumer unit is compliant as part of our EICR and electrical safety checks.
We offer consumer unit upgrades as part of our remedial works service. All our consumer units are installed compliant with BS7671:18th edition and we offer different levels of consumer units where other options are appropriate, such as surge protection, RCBO protection, and Arc detection.
Residual Current Devices
All new consumer units offer RCD protection either by way of Dual RCD Protection, RCBO protection, or combined Arc/RCBO protection. RCD is an acronym for Residual Current Device.
The RCD device operates (trips) if an earth fault occurs, thereby cutting off the power within the required disconnection time of either 40 milliseconds or 200 milliseconds depending on the fault current. The RCD will cut the power much more quickly than an MCB (Miniature circuit breaker) which therefore reduces the risk of fire or danger to life as a result of the fault.
Types of RCD protection
If you have dual RCD protection in your new consumer unit then you will typically lose power to half of the circuits in the consumer unit even if the fault is only present on one circuit. Whereas if you have RCBO or Combined Arc/RCBO protection then only the faulty circuit will be disconnected, and the rest will remain energised.
Your Hexo Electrical Testing engineer can upgrade your consumer unit to ensure it offers the necessary protection and complies with current safety standards. We can advise of all options around upgrading your consumer unit, so you can rest assured everything is working as it should in your property.
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How Much Does a London Landlord EICR Certificate Cost?
Our Domestic EICR prices start at £110+VAT for a studio sized property with up to 8 electrical circuits. If you need any help checking how many circuits you have, then please contact us. Additional circuits are charged at £15+VAT each.
All electrical safety test landlord prices
Our full range of landlord electrical safety certificate costs can be found here and it’s easy to make a booking. If any electrical remedial work is needed, we can provide costs and a suitable schedule once the landlord EICR certificate has been issued.
Booking your landlord electrical certificate London
We can handle the booking of all jobs with individual tenants and offer lower rates for multiple properties, making electrical testing for landlords even easier. Plus, with fast landlord certificate turnaround times, you can sit back and let us take care of your properties and your tenants.
With Hexo Electrical Testing, London landlord EICR certificates are straightforward, reliable and cost effective – giving you confidence in the safety of all your electrics.
Landlord Electrical Safety Certificates and Electrical Remedial Works
When it comes to issuing landlord electrical safety certificates and carrying out necessary electrical remedial works, we’ve got you covered. Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords have 28 days to arrange repair works.
For landlords with a large portfolio of properties, we can set up a schedule of remedial rates and can complete remedial works on the very same day. This reduces the number of bookings needed and minimises any disruption for your tenants, while ensuring that necessary repairs and works can be carried out quickly and efficiently.
Why Choose Hexo for London Landlord Electrical Certificates?
At Hexo Electrical Testing, obtaining a landlord electrical safety certificate is easy and affordable.
We have many years of experience providing professional electrical inspection and testing services to landlords and businesses in London and the surrounding areas. Our inspectors receive the highest standards of industry training and complete specialist training modules in electrical inspection and testing.
You will be in very safe hands when you choose Hexo for your landlord EICR certificate in London. We have the skills and expertise to efficiently inspect and, if required, upgrade and repair your electrical installation so that it is safe and compliant.
Want to Know More About our Landlord Certificates London?
Learn more about our electrical testing for landlords and find out how much a landlord electrical safety certificate costs by contacting our friendly team today or make an online booking.
Book Electrical Testing for Landlords Today
We offer an online booking system for our Domestic EICR service which is what you need as a landlord in London. Prices start at £110+VAT and you can add PAT testing at the booking stage if you wish.
By hiring us you can ensure that your property’s electrical safety standards are always met. To find out more about electrical testing for landlords, get in touch with us by emailing info@hexoelectricaltesting.co.uk, or calling 0207 315 4151.
