What do the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require?
Brought in in June 2020, the Regulations require landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, at an interval of at least every 5 years. Landlords have to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants, and to their local authority if requested.
This means that all landlords now have to do what good landlords already do: make sure the electrical installations in their rented properties are safe.
How do landlords ensure compliance?
Landlords should ensure their rented properties have an up to date Electrical Inspection Condition Report [EICR]. The maximum interval between testing is 5 years. Cornwall Electrician undertakes hundreds of EICR’s each year for landlords. Our electricians have completed their advanced Inspection and Testing qualifications so you can be certain our reports satisfy the requirements of the regulations.
What is the process of an EICR?
Power is usually off for a period between 2 and 4 hours, depending on the size of the property.
All your fixed wiring will be tested, where access allows. Our electricians will test your wiring for age, damage, overload, correct installation and whether your installation, if at all, requires any remedial works. This is using our test equipment and involves unscrewing sockets and switches from the walls to inspect the cabling behind.
Any protective devices you have installed within your consumer units will be tested to ensure they operate within the required timescales.
We check for heat damage, where access allows, above down light fittings and advise accordingly.
While it is not a requirement under the regulations, we will also check your smoke alarms for correct operation and note their date of expiry.