Changes to electrical safety standards rules applying to existing tenancies came into force at the start of the Easter break and agents are now advised to keep a paper trail.

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, require electrical installations in private rental properties to be inspected and tested by a qualified electrician every five years.

Those agents or landlords who fail to comply, or fail to undertake necessary repairs, could face fines up to £30,000. 

In addition, a copy of the Electrical Inspection Condition Report should be handed over to tenants and, if requested, to the local authority.

The regulations officially came into force back on June 1 last year and applied to new tenancies from July 1 2020,  but it was only at the beginning of this April that they applied also to existing tenancies.

Timothy Douglas, policy and campaigns manager at Propertymark, says: “The regulation sets out the requirements for landlords to ensure all fixed electrical installations are safe and maintained correctly. 

“Importantly, due to the impact of the pandemic, where work is unable to be carried out, letting agents should document all activity relating to arranging, planning and scheduling work. 

“Creating a paper trail of communication between tenants, landlords and electricians will help safeguard agents against any enforcement activity in order to show they have done everything they can to comply.”