The government’s announcement that it will bring in mandatory electrical checks in the private rented sector has been welcomed - perhaps predictably - by the Electrical Safety Roundtable, which has been campaigning for the change for several years.
Housing Secretary James Brokenshire last week gave notice of the forthcoming changes in a speech which also detailed a number of measures designed to strengthen building safety, based on recommendations made in the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.
The inspections are intended to bring the overall state of privately rented properties into line with other tenures, with government figures showing that 40 per cent of properties in the sector were missing at least one of the recommended five electrical safety features.
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We have been advising our landlords for years that the only way to show due diligence is to have an electrical safety check done, so no change for our landlords ..... but I also reckon there should be safety checks for oil central heating as tanks in particular can be dodgy leading to the potential for big fines if they leak
This change is actually a good thing, it will make something that has only been a best practice recommendation a requirement and will make all our lives easier, as well as making tenants lives safer.
This has ALWAYS been the only way to show due dilligence towards electrical safety. The fact that so many landlords are moaning now shows they were barely aware of their duties before
If this is such a great idea then why not make it mandatory for owner-occupied property. No votes in that?
Because that’s not landlord bashing and won’t win any more tenant votes
Look good professional landlords dont have a problem with this, which is already standard practice on HMO. But don't forget the tenants electrical items and the noticeable fact on 3 monthly Inspections of tenants overloading plugs. Bring in Laws which tenants have to sign and work to also. We cannot live with our tenants 24/7!.
Still say now is the time to sell up and leave the housing to the council's as they did in the 50s 60 and 70s. Trouble is they dont have a clue or the man power on how to be law abiding landlords as most of the rules they apply to HMO properties does not apply to their own council properties and tenants, fact!!!
Most tenants can't be bothered to fit new batteries in their smoke detectors.
we should direct the same thing to the council housing considering the recent outbreak of fire in the council housing. kick a fuss over the electrical certificate in social housing and the lack of gas certificate and structurally unsound as they fit the tenants into rundown building and not upkeep them. please show us the epc on the social housing to proof that they are on top of their landlord responsibilities. that is why they are constantly distinguishing the "PRIVATE" renting sector, NOT JUST RENTING SECTOR
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