Update: Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020

News at Howard Independent Estate Agents | 18/05/2020

*A new update on this article can be found here

Further to the government’s announcement that they are to press ahead with the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT) have issued advice ahead of the introduction of the new rules.

The useful guidance covers everything you need to know and can be found here.

In the meantime, here is a quick re-cap:

As of 1 July 2020 it will be mandatory for all Landlords to have an electrical safety test carried out for new tenancies and renewals (fixed and periodic) beginning 1 July 2020 and beyond, and all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021

The Regulations require local housing authorities to enforce the rules and they have the power to arrange remedial action.

Although the regulations are still in draft format the Government confirms there will be no delay despite COVID-19 and the rules will be in place ready for 1 July 2020.

Industry regulators continue to pressurise the government to delay the new legislation, however we are currently advised by our regulator ARLA Propertymark to proceed as per the Governments guidance which states: Where landlords can show they have taken all reasonable steps to comply with the regulations, they will not be in breach of the rules—this includes a duty to comply with a remedial notice. Where agents and landlords are unable to gain access to a property, they should document both their efforts to do so and all communication with tenants. Attempts to carry out the work should then start again once social distancing and self-isolation measures have been lifted.

We strongly recommend reading the expert guidance, in full from NAPIT. However, as always the team at Howard are here to answer any questions you may have.