Delay electrical rule changes to keep tenants safe, trade body urges

New regulations mean highest risk rental properties may not have legally binding electrical safety cover for a prolonged period of time.

That’s the warning today from the Residential Landlords Association.

Regulation changes coming into force in June will remove the obligation for landlords to carry out electrical safety checks in Houses of Multiple Occupation. 

The obligation under the new rules will not apply until a tenancy is renewed or April 2021, whichever comes first.

The RLA warns this will mean some rental properties will be under no legally binding electrical safety regime for the interim period, leaving tenants without the assurance that properties are safe.

The new plans, which have been presented to Parliament for agreement, also contain weaker penalties for landlords failing to keep the properties they rent safe and complicate the process by which local authorities can issue penalties, making enforcement more difficult.

The Residential Landlords Association has written to the Ministry of Housing to express its concerns about “the loophole being created for irresponsible landlords who otherwise would not carry out these checks.”

It is calling on the government to delay the implementation of the new framework to provide time to address the problems being caused.

RLA policy director David Smith says: “Good landlords don’t need to be told to carry out safety checks but these changes to regulations leave tenants vulnerable to those landlords who are not so responsible. It is essential for the safety of tenants that the loophole being created is closed and we urge the government to delay implementation until that happens.”