Do I need an Electrical Installation Conditioning Report?

The responsibility of safety for an establishment falls on the shoulders of the landlord. The EICR is a legal certificate concerning electrical safety that validates electrical safety standards and their observation. In the event of an accident, it demonstrates that you did everything possible within your ability to avoid it.

EICR is also helpful in the event of a fire on your property. For example, the EICR may list an item that needs repair, but if the homeowner did not do the repair work, causing a fire due to work mentioned, the home insurance might not pay for damages.

What are the new rules, and how do they differ from the old ones?

The landlord always has the legal responsibility to ensure that his property is safe before and after a new tenant moves in. If the tenant suffers harm as a result of the poor electrical installations, the landlord may face legal action. But until recently, there were no legal mandates for homeowners to check on the electrical safety standards in their property.

Since June 2020, new legislations have been enacted by UK lawmakers. that oversee the observation of electrical safety standards in the form of an electrical installations condition report. The landlord must comply with the rules through the following steps:

  • Hire a certified electrician as defined by the housing authority for electrical inspections. The landlord must keep the resulting report, which includes the date for the next mandated inspection as seen fit by the electrician. Before a new tenant comes in, or every five years, this examination must be conducted.
  • The incoming tenant must be handed a copy of the EICR before moving in for their consideration.
  • Anytime a new test is carried out, the property occupants must receive a new copy within 28 workdays.
  • The housing authority must provide a copy of the report within seven days of the issuance, or legal penalties may be considered for the landlord.
  • Any prospective tenant must be provided with a copy as well, within 28 days of their request.

What if I already had an EICR when July 1, 2020, rolled around?

Any existing EICR certificates over five years old are now considered invalid, and a new inspection is due for the property in question.

However, if you have an accurate report but feel like the electrical conditions in your property may have changed since then, you are morally responsible for ordering a new check. In other cases, if any significant electrical renovations have taken place since the last inspection, the latest appliances must be subjected to a test before the building is clear for new tenants.

Electrical fixtures can be subjected to unstable weather conditions in the UK, which means you might consider personal inspections after a heavy storm. Regularly updating the EICR even if the five-year mandate isn’t up yet can put the minds of the landlord and tenants at ease. In some cases, the electrician might recommend an alternative inspection schedule.

What happens if my home fails the EICR inspection?

The legislation in question mandates that any failure of electrical installations reported in the EICR certificate must be addressed and repaired within 28 days or less if specified by the electrician in charge of the inspection. After the implementation of the recommended repairs and replacements, the following must be observed by the landlord:

  • A written confirmation regarding the inspection must be obtained from the person in charge, stating the optimal condition of the facilities or requesting new remedial work or replacements.
  • The residents must receive a hard copy or an online copy of the certificate within 28 days.
  • The same report must be forwarded to the housing authority within seven days or less if requested explicitly by the authorities.

Following the repairs, another test must be carried out, possibly by the same electrician. If the results are unsatisfactory, the steps above must be repeated until electrical safety is ensured.

What is going to happen if I violate the terms?

The local housing authority must oversee the process of inspection and repairs. They are legally responsible for reviewing the safety of all electrical appliances in private rental properties.

Their first step is to perform regular inspections and checks on the safety of the property and determine whether there is any need for repairs or if previous repairs have been carried out incorrectly and without a proper certification as required by the aforementioned legal proceedings. Upon their assessment, they will notify the landlord of any necessary repairs, which must be completed in 28 days or less. Upon receiving the request, the landlord is welcome to appeal the decision, albeit within 21 days of the notice. The local authority must respond within seven days until the deadline for remedial work ceases to be legally binding.

Suppose the landlord fails to convince the authorities that the repairs are unnecessary. In that case, the housing authority will require immediate maintenance, and failure to comply puts the landlord at risk of hefty fines. If they fail to hire a valid electrician before the mandate is due, the housing authority can employ an electrician on their behalf, who will carry out the repair work with the tenants’ consent. The housing authority pays for the electrician, but they will charge the landlord later for the services rendered.

If the landlord fails to compensate the local authority, they could take the court to case, and depending on the subject; the court may confirm a penalty of 30,000 pounds for breaches and violations by the landlord. 

How can we help you to get Electrical Installation Condition Reports?

At Electric Works London, we can assist landlords with arranging for a qualified person to complete an EICR inspection and test at their property to get an EICR certificate. Do not hesitate to contact us. If you have any further questions, our team is ready to discuss the specifics of these requirements.