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Government tightens electrical safety rules for private landlords
Private landlords will be required to hire qualified electrical safety inspectors for their rented homes under new rules announced today.
Those who fail to use “competent and qualified” people for electrical inspections could be faced with financial penalties.
The government said the measures – which match existing regulations in Scotland – would offer tenants better protection as part of its attempts to drive up standards in the private rented sector.
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Housing and homelessness minister Heather Wheeler said: “While measures are already in place to crack down on the small minority of landlords who rent out unsafe properties, we need to do more to protect tenants.
“These new measures will reduce the risk of faulty electrical equipment, giving people peace of mind and helping to keep them safe in their homes.
“It will also provide clear guidance to landlords on who they should be hiring to carry out these important electrical safety checks.”
The government has published its response to a consultation on electrical safety in the private rented sector, which ran from February to April.
It announced in July that regulations would be introduced requiring private landlords to carry out electrical safety checks every five years, with legislation still to be introduced.
Ministers are also set to publish guidance on the new rules, specifying the minimum level of competence and qualifications required.
Last week housing associations presented an electrical safety code for the social rented sector to parliament.
