Electrical safety: Expert guidance launched
New rules on electrical safety will be introduced this July, with expert guidance now launched by trade association NAPIT.
In addition to the NRLA’s own guide, The National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT) have issued advice ahead of the introduction of the new rules which will apply to all new tenancies.
It has also introduced a dedicated online search facility on its website for landlords searching for competent and qualified tradespeople.
The new regulations require pre-tenancy and five yearly checks of all fixed appliances and wiring and will be rolled out to all existing tenancies from April 2021.
Landlords failing to comply with the new rules will face fines of up to £30,000.
Coronavirus
The NRLA had asked the government to delay the introduction of the checks – due to the issues caused by coronavirus – not least the availability of qualified inspectors.
However the government plans to stick to the original timescale, although it has issued guidance making it clear that, while landlords are still responsible for providing safe homes during the pandemic, if they can show that they have taken ‘all reasonable steps to comply with their duties’ they are not in breach if they cannot comply.
Mike Andrews, Chief Executive Officer of NAPIT said: “As the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers, we see it as our duty to provide accurate, consistent and easy to understand guidance for landlords on these new regulations.
“Electrical Safety is at the forefront of everything we do, and we have worked hard on this guidance to make it easy for landlords to understand their requirements.
“We have also launched a dedicated online search facility on our website helping landlords search for competent and qualified tradespeople that they can trust to carry out their electrical inspections.
“As well as this we have created a new Landlord Electrical Installation Safety Record for our members to use which provides a summary of the often lengthy Electrical Installation Condition Report.
“We will continue to support both our members and Landlords during this period of adjustment.”
