Landlord electrical safety rules in EnglandWirrelec advice / NAPIT registered electricians
Since 2020, private landlords in England have specific legal duties on electrical safety. Here is what they are, and the deadlines that catch people out.
The core rule
Under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, the electrical installation in every privately rented home must be inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, or sooner if the report says so.
The deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Give a copy of the report to existing tenants | Within 28 days of the inspection |
| Give a copy to new tenants | Before they move in |
| Give a copy to the council if asked | Within 7 days of the request |
| Carry out remedial or further investigation work | Within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so |
| Confirm the work is done to tenants and the council | Within 28 days of completing it |
If you do not comply
Councils can serve a remedial notice, arrange the work themselves and recover the cost, and impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000.
Alarms
Separate rules require a smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance such as a boiler or log burner. Landlords must repair or replace alarms once told they are faulty.
Keeping on top of it
- Keep each property's report and its next due date in one place
- Book the next inspection well before the due date, not on it
- Get remedial work quoted and done inside the 28 days
- Keep the written confirmation that work was completed