Every tenant has a right to a safe and habitable property, where they can live in privacy and regarding which their landlord meets their legal and contractual obligations. This hasn’t always been the case, and legislation is being updated regularly to protect tenants’ rights.
Duties of care for landlords include ensuring that the property:
- is structurally sound
- has all essential services
- adheres to Health and Safety requirements
- has working smoke alarms on every floor
- passes an annual gas safety check
In addition, the tenancy must be covered by a legally binding tenancy agreement and the landlord must use a government-approved deposit protection scheme. The landlord must also issue a copy of the How to rent’ guide, a gas safety certificate and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
The Renters' Rights Act bans ‘no-fault’ Section 21 evictions and invalidates any eviction notice issued in response to a complaint about poor conditions. While not mandatory, good landlord practice also includes conducting regular checks and appropriate maintenance both internally and externally, and negotiating with the tenant as to what constitutes reasonable wear and tear for the rental term.
Specifically in terms of electrical safety, every landlord in the UK is mandated to have electrical installations in their rental properties inspected and tested by a qualified electrician at least every five years. They must provide a copy of the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection being completed and to new tenants before they move in to the property. If the EICR identifies any faults, landlords must arrange for the remedial work to be carried out within 28 days and then provide proof to their tenants that the work has been completed.
At MS Electrical we offer Electrical Installation Condition Reports for landlords and letting agents in and around Cambridge. Should you need an EICR, please contact us for advice or to request a no-obligation quotation.