Electrical Safety Regulations for Landlords in Wales

Landlords with properties in Llangefni, Bangor, Caergybi, Gwynedd a Ynys Mon have many legal responsibilities, including complying with electrical safety regulations.  

There is a long list of regulations that apply to landlords, with frequent changes to keep on top of. 

For example, since December 2022, the electrical safety laws for landlords in Wales have included the requirement to have an EICR certificate for their rented properties.  

If you rent out property in Wales, and you’re unsure about the rules, read on for our complete guide to landlord electrical safety regulations in the country. 

What Are The Electrical Safety Requirements For Landlords In Wales? 

Historically, checking the safety electrical installations in a rental home wasn’t a legal requirement in Wales, but mandatory electrical testing was introduced as one of the measures in the Renting Homes Wales Act 2016. 

The current law requires landlords to arrange for a competent person to inspect the electrical installations in the rental home and produce a report every five years.  

The checks must be done for all wiring and fixed electrical installations. The reason for these checks is to protect tenants from the danger of fire and electric shocks. Consequently, the checks require inspection of the property for hazards including overloaded circuits, defective electrical work and issues with earthing or bonding. 

In addition, landlords are required to install an interlinked, hard wired, working smoke alarm on every storey of the rental property and a carbon monoxide alarm if it has a gas, oil or solid fuel appliance, such as a boiler, cooker or fire. Fail to do so, and the property could be deemed unfit for human habitation, with serious consequences for you as the landlord. 

What Is A PIT? 

PIT stands for periodic inspection and testing. This is the name given to the electrical checks which landlords must arrange for the property every five years. The testing must be carried out by a competent person. 

What Is An EICR? 

Once your electrician has completed the PIT testing, they will supply you with a document called an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). The EICR sets out the results of the test. It will also tell you if there are any areas of concern that you need to fix.  

If there are no issues, the EICR confirms that the electrics in your property are safe for tenants. The law requires you to supply a copy of the report to your tenant within 14 days of the start of the tenancy. 

Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate – What Is Checked? 

When an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is completed, all the fixed electrical installations within the property are inspected to check for potential hazards. The following will be included in the checks: 

• Sockets 
• Switches 
• Fittings 
• Fuse box 
• Earthing and bonding of circuits 
• Protection devices such as circuit breakers and RCDs 
• Any signs of exposed wires 

The inspection includes checks for safety, wear and tear, corrosion, excessive loading and deterioration of the installations listed above. 

EICR Results Explained For Landlords 

An Electrical Installation Condition Report lists all the different aspects of the installations in a property and a classification code is provided to grade each one. 

The codes are: 

C1 – Danger present 

This is the most serious classification indicating that there is a current danger and immediate remedial action is required. For example, this could be exposed live wires, overheating that could cause an electrical fire or missing/damaged earthing. 

C2 – Potentially dangerous 

This is the next most serious level of classification and is used for issues that are not currently a direct risk but could become a hazard if no action is taken. Examples include damaged insulation and corrosion on electrical connections.  

C3 – Improvement recommended 

The C3 category is given where urgent action is not required but the inspector recommends improvements. There is no present danger but there are indications that there could be issues in future if no action is taken. For example, minor wear and tear on sockets or older wiring that is still deemed safe but does not meet modern standards. 

F1 – Further investigation required 

An F1 classification means that a deeper assessment is required, usually because the inspector has not been able to access all areas to fully inspect circuits or there are voltage irregularities that require to be monitored over a longer time period. 

How Often Do EICR Checks Need To Take Place In Wales? 

EICR checks must be carried out every five years in Wales. However, if your report highlights areas of safety concern, your electrician may recommend that the test is carried out more frequently. 

You aren’t legally obliged to repeat the test within five years, just because there is a change of tenant. However, some landlords decide to do so, meaning you know the electrics in the home are safe when your new tenant moves in. 

Who Can Carry Out An EICR Test? 

The testing must be carried out by a competent person – in other words an electrician who is qualified to complete the work. Find out more about who is a competent person on the competent person or Electrical Safety First websites. 

What If My Electrics Are Unsafe? 

If an electrical installation fails the test, your electrician will recommend repairs or that further investigations are needed. You will need to follow the recommended action until the issue is resolved. Once the electrics are safe, you must provide your tenant with confirmation.  

As with the report itself, you must provide your tenant with this confirmation within 14 days of the work being completed, or their moving in date, if a new tenancy. In addition, a landlord is also required to provide the contract-holder with written confirmation of all investigatory and remedial work carried out on the electrical service installation as a result of an inspection.

Is PAT Testing A Legal Requirement In Wales? 

No, PAT testing is not a legal requirement in Wales for landlords, but it is still recommended to help remain compliant with electrical safety regulations. If landlords are supplying electrical appliances such as a fridge, washing machine, electrical oven etc. performing regular PAT tests can prevent electrical safety hazards.  

What Are The Consequences Of Not Complying? 

If you don’t follow the law when it comes to EICR checks and reports, you could be liable for a hefty fine. Failure to comply with these new requirements could mean your home is regarded as unfit for human habitation under the Renting Homes Wales Act, which brings fines of up to £30,000. 

Electrical safety is just one of the areas covered by the act, which seeks to ensure that rental homes in Wales are fit for habitation by tenants. If you’re a Welsh landlord, with property in Llangefni, Bangor, Caergybi, Gwynedd neu Ynys Mon, we’d be happy to help you ensure your property complies with the law. Contact us to discuss our range of services for landlords.