BUYLandlords with existing tenancies will soon become part of the Government’s latest drive to improve standards in the private rental sector. New and renewing tenancies are already covered by The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 but as of 1st April 2021, properties that are in the midst of a tenancy will also fall under the new legislation.
The 1st April is a very important date as it’s not when the new legislation starts impacting existing tenancies but it is when the first electrical inspections and tests need to be completed by. This gives landlords a matter of weeks to secure the services of a registered electrician, request access from any tenants and book a visit date.
The Aspire Property Management team is already assisting landlords with this critical exercise. Our experts are booking trades and appointments on behalf of our full management clients so their let properties stay compliant. The new electrical standards will be an ongoing concern too, as landlords are obliged to repeat the inspection and tests at intervals of no more than 5 years – sooner if issues are flagged up by an electrical professional.
Financial penalties for a breach of the new legislation will be as high as £30,000, so it’s important to stay on top of requirements. If you’d like advice on the matter of electrical safety standards, or would like our lettings team to take care of compliance for you, contact Aspire today.
