The government’s new EICR Certificate Cost Act comes into effect in July. This is not something landlords can ignore, as violations carry fines of up to £30,000. Most landlords are well aware of the dangers of miswiring and wouldn’t want their tenants living in homes with wall sockets, exposed light fixture wiring, and old wiring. The new law is here to ensure that all landlords adhere to their duty of care to their tenants.
However, most homes in the UK are old, so a new EICR certificate may find many issues that need to be fixed. While you may not need to redo your entire home, it can cost you a lot of repairs. Cash flow is a big issue for landlords right now, thanks to the disruption caused. And pay for the repair work (if necessary).
Does the landlord currently conduct an electrical safety inspection?
Current regulations stipulate that an HMO owner must conduct an inspection every five years. Non-HMO landlords must ensure that the electricity in their rental property is safe, but an EICR Certificate Cost is not yet a requirement, but will soon be. The regulations have been extended to cover most new tenants in the private rental sector from 1 July 2022 and existing tenants from 1 April 2022. Below are some important exceptions..
- Residential landlord
- Lease agreement in which the landlord occupies the premises
- Students live in dormitories, hostels, hospitals, clinics and refugee care homes
- 7+ year warranty
- Registered social housing operator
Electrical Safety Responsibilities of Homeowners
Property must comply with Engineering Institute Wiring Rules 2018 Edition. Landlords should hire a licensed electrician to inspect their tenant’s property. Electricians are required to prepare an EICR Certificate Cost that must be repeated every five years. EICR inspects the consumer side of the property, wiring and distribution, grounding and bonding. Electricians look for live wires and damaged electrical equipment. Certificates are issued when proprietary circuits are protected.
If the electrical installation is in violation of the above regulations, the electrician must carry out an additional inspection within 28 days, after which the necessary corrective work will be carried out. A report of work performed along with a certificate of completion must be submitted within 28 days for new tenants and within 28 days for existing tenants. If requested, another copy should be sent to the local administration.
If additional work is required, a detailed description of the work and a completion report should be followed by additional reports until the installation of the electrical installation is fully completed and submitted to the tenant and local authorities.
Electronic Security Compliance
Local governments are given additional powers to enforce landlord compliance. You can request to view the report within 7 days of your request. If your landlord is breaking the rules, you can send them a correction notice. A rectification notice must be served to the landlord within 21 days after the local authority has a reasonable cause for action.
If the landlord is served a rectification notice, they must take corrective action within her 28 days. A landlord may make a written statement if he feels that a correction notice is unnecessary, but this he must do within 21 days. Local authorities must suspend treatment until they respond, with a grace period of seven days. After the local authority confirms that repair work will continue, the home owner will be given another 21 days to do the work.
If the landlord fails to resolve the urgent electrical problem listed in the rectification notice, the local government may arrange for the work to be performed and recover reasonable costs from the landlord. Local authorities must give notice of their intentions, and if landlords are dissatisfied, they can initiate an appeal from the court of first instance.
Landlords who do not follow the rules can face civil penalties of up to £30,000. Repeated violations of the rules will result in heavy fines.
What if my tenant denies access?
The landlord is not responsible if the tenant denies access to the property.
Electronic Security Regulations and Section 21 Notices
Failure to issue a gas safety certificate or EPC will result in a Section 21 notice being denied, but failure to submit an electrical safety report will not affect your Section 21 notice. However, the laws are binding and the penalties are severe, so it is wise to follow them. Governments may also revoke Article 21 notifications, in which case the issue is irrelevant.
For a new tenant he needs EICR Certificate Cost
Beginning July 1, 2021, landlords will be required to provide copies of EICR Certificate Cost to new tenants prior to moving into the property. The report must be submitted by her within 28 days.
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Electricity security and regular rent
Once an electrical safety report has been created, the landlord must provide each tenant living on the property with a copy of the report within 28 days. Another copy of the report must be kept by her for 5 years and given to the electrician who performs the inspection.
Impact of electrical safety regulations on landlords
For the most part, professional portfolio owners conduct regular electronic audits, so the new law may not have much of an impact. The new rules primarily affect the landlord and her smaller landlord with less than five properties. These homeowners may struggle to find a competent electrician who can work on time.
Cost of Electronic Security Checks
The EICR Certificate Cost typically £150 for smaller properties and £300 or more for larger properties, but costs can add up quickly if refurbishment work is required.
If you have an older property that is over 30 years old, has little electrical work, and needs a full renovation, a two-bed property will cost you on average. 2,750. It takes 5-8 days. Electrical work is often incidental, resulting in significant disruption and additional costs such as plastering, decoration, and flooring replacement.
Will EICR Occur During the Covid-19 Pandemic?
The start date of mandatory electrical safety inspections may be delayed. However, don’t rely on it, because even with delays, the check will arrive quickly. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, it can be difficult to find an electrician to work with, so we encourage you to find the right person as soon as possible. If your property is vacant, there’s no reason an electrician can’t come and do the work, but if there are tenants living there, special arrangements may be required.
Please contact your tenant to see if they are self-isolating. If so, you have no choice but to defer the task. If not, check to see if you authorize the property electronically. It should be possible to maintain social distance as long as all parties have enough space to keep him at least 2 meters away at all times. Otherwise, the work will have to be postponed again.
Due to the restrictions in place, local governments cannot force landlords to comply with the new laws, but we recommend calling the housing department and asking them to let them know that the EICR Certificate Cost cannot be adjusted until then. Either the lockout measures have been relaxed or the tenant has not self-isolated.
Looking Ahead
Finding a qualified electrician can be difficult even after life returns to normal. This is due to the lack of manpower in many areas. If you find someone you trust and trust, kindly put their number on the list. Land ownership regulations are getting stricter every year. Unfortunately, landlords cannot afford to ignore all the new regulatory changes coming into force, including this one. Without an EICR Certificate Cost, it would be impossible to find a new tenant or a lessor willing to work with you. Unless your property is vacant and currently for sale, now is a good time to review your obligations and take the necessary steps to achieve compliance.
To the best of our knowledge, the information in this report is correct, but if you need professional advice, please contact your local housing office or call a landlord helpline such as the London Property Inspections. Please. If you have any thoughts or feedback about your experience as a landlord, please reach out to us on social media. Until then, stay safe!
