Legislation Update - Do you know your electrical and EPC requirements?
26th April 2017 posted in Landlords
Electrics
Changes to the Housing and Planning Act now mean that from October 2017 a Landlord will be expected to carry out electrical safety testing to all properties.
Currently the regulations state that a Landlord only needs to keep the electrics in “good repair and proper working order”, however these changes could mean that either a Fixed Wiring Report (EICR) or a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) will need completing; the minimum standard is yet to be confirmed.
Depending which of the Reports the Secretary of State imposes, will then determine the frequency of the Reports; a Fixed Wiring Test (EICR) lasts 5 years and a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) is due at the start of each new tenancy.
They state that Landlords who do not comply with these new regulations are subject to a financial penalty and the Local Authority will have the power to enter the property with only the Tenants consent to carry out works so that that the property complies with the safety standards, no doubt at a cost plus the penalty.
We have always encouraged these safety checks on new instructions and applications/lets but we would recommend that our Landlords now start carrying out these tests prior to the rise in demand. Please contact your local branch for more information.
EPC’s
We’ve commented in previous Newsletters that the law’s and requirements about the Energy Performance of a property will change in 2018. We have recently updated our network of Offices about this and they may well be in touch soon to talk to those Landlords whose properties we look after to discuss your rating. Please refer to our original article here; https://www.hunters.com/news/new-minimum-energy-efficiency-standards