The government is proposing new rules to require private landlords to provide electrical safety certificates.
Regulations will be introduced requiring private sector landlords to undertake five yearly safety checks of electrical installations.
Private landlords will be required to ensure that the inspectors they engage to carry out safety inspections have the necessary competence and qualifications, and there will be financial penalties for those landlords who fail to comply.
Such penalties are likely to include a range of sanctions, with local authorities being given discretion to decide which is most appropriate in a particular case.
The detailed regulations will follow but the indications are that the legislation will apply on a phased basis, starting with new tenancies.
More detail can be found on the government website contained in Electrical safety and private rented sector: government response (MHCLG January 2019).
If you would like advice about this matter or any landlord and tenant issues please contact Paul Addison on 01934 637906 addison@powellslaw.com
