Electrical Safety Regulations for Landlords in Wales
TPPUK posted on 7th Awst 2023
Landlords with properties in Llangefni, Bangor, Caergybi, Gwynedd a Ynys Mon should be aware of changes to the rules around electrical safety, which now require regular testing of the electrics in a rental home.
Changes to the law around electrical safety in Wales came into force in December 2022, bringing the country into line with regulations in England and Scotland. 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 were the laws around electrical safety in Wales before 2022?
Checking the safety electrical installations in a rental home has always been good practice. However, this wasn’t a legal requirement in Wales until December 2022, when mandatory electrical testing was introduced as one of the measures in the Renting Homes Wales Act 2016.
What are the new legal requirements in Wales?
The law now says that landlords must 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 idea 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.
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.
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, Holyhead, Gwynedd or Anglesey, we’d be happy to help you ensure your property complies with the law. Contact us to discuss our range of services for landlords.
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