EICR

The safety of electrical installations must comply with regulated standards. Problems with the fuse board, switches, or sockets may lead to electric shock or fires, causing harm and property damage. A report by Electric Safety First indicates that 20,000 UK homes experience electrical fires annually, with 89% attributed to electrical products and 11% to faulty wiring. Routine inspections and maintenance can significantly reduce these incidents.

Landlords bear the responsibility for ensuring tenants' safety by guaranteeing proper installation and functioning of electrical appliances, wires, and fuse boxes. Regular visual inspections are critical, but hidden cables may be overlooked without a qualified electrician. SSM Electrical offers property inspections and provides an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) to validate compliance with legal safety standards.

In long-term rental properties, an 'electrical safety' inspection, including PAT testing and EICR, is mandatory every five years. This requirement applies to residential properties in Scotland, as well as holiday homes and Airbnbs. Short-term rentals now adhere to similar standards, necessitating five-yearly EICR and PAT tests.

Since April 2021, all rental properties in England must possess a valid electrical safety certificate as per “The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020”. In essence, this means every rented property in England lacking a valid electrical safety certificate must obtain one by April 2021, or sooner depending on tenancy arrangements, as outlined below:

New rental agreements from July 1, 2020, require a valid certificate supplied to each tenant within 28 days. Existing/long-term tenancies lacking a valid electrical safety certificate must obtain one by April 1, 2021. It's important to note that if you are a Landlord and haven't acquired an EICR, you may be held liable for electrical faults in the property.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and Fixed Wire Testing: An EICR, also known as a Periodic Inspection Check, ensures electrical safety for tenants. It assesses:

Integrity and degradation of the wiring Damage to electrical accessories (sockets, switches) Compliance with relevant BS7671 regulations Any non-compliance with the new legislation can result in fines of up to £30,000 for landlords. This aligns England closer to the “Housing (Scotland) Act 2014”, where EICRs have been enforced for rental properties since December 2015.