Things You Need to Know About EICR

The first thing that you must know about the EICR or electrical installation condition certificate is that it is a legal requirement for landlords in the UK. Whether you own houses in multiple occupations (HMO) or commercial buildings, it is your duty to get an EICR for landlords. If you fail to adhere to the standards and regulations, you may face criminal charges, be imprisoned, or required to pay a fine.

Wondering what an EICR is and what it’s for? Here’s everything you need to know about this requirement:

1.      EICR reveals the current state of your electrical installations      

An electrician can only issue an EICR after doing a thorough evaluation and inspection of your property. The report provides you with detailed assessments and insights on the current health and integrity of your property's electrical system. It shows whether your electrical work conforms to applicable safety standards or not, if there are problems that need immediate action, and if there are potential issues that need urgent attention. The information you will get from the report is crucial as it will guide you on your next steps.

2. Electrical inspections must be carried out periodically    

Another thing that you must understand is that your electrical testing certificates and EICR reports must be renewed every five years for both domestic and commercial tenanted properties. If you have a swimming pool on the premises, then inspections should be carried out every year.

3. Scotland requires landlords to present their EICR to tenants    

To further protect tenants, Scotland passed a law that requires the landlord to present these reports to tenants as proof that their properties are safe to occupy. Having said this, it is highly recommended to get EICR every change of tenancy.

4. You need it for property insurance claims    

To reduce the likelihood of electrocution, fire, and other related accidents, insurance providers consider periodic electrical inspections as part of the landlord's obligations. They look for electrical certifications and other documentation like PAT testing and emergency light testing before granting the claims of a landlord and paying for the repairs and other expenses.

https://www.electricalsafetycertificate.co.uk/eicr-legal-requirements-landlords/

Electrical Certificates: Why it is Necessary for Landlords

Securing an electrical certificate for landlords is one of the requirements of the law if you own an HMO property. You have a legal obligation to have your electrical installations checked periodically. This means that every five years, you need to hire a competent electrician to carry out tests and inspections and to renew your landlord electrical certificate.

Even if you own a single let private residential property, electrical tests are still necessary. You are not legally obligated to do it, but it's one effective way of complying with the law's requirements, including:

●        Ensuring that the letting property is safe to occupy, and

●        Ensuring the electrics and appliances supplied are in a safe condition.

Here are the reasons why the law strongly recommends that landlords get an electrical certificate:

Avoid prosecution

Failure to secure an electrical certificate for the landlord may lead to prosecution. After all, you have a legal duty to ensure your rental property and any electrical or appliances equipment provided are safe before and throughout the tenancy. So, if you cannot present an EICR to your tenant, you may be sued by them. In case of fire resulting in injury and death, you may face criminal charges on top of a hefty fine.

Reveal the real condition of your property

Inspections involve thorough investigations and tests of wirings, connections, appliances, plugs, sockets and other parts to find out if your electrical installations or any alterations made in the last years meet BS 7671. The reports will tell you if there are C1: Immediate Dangers, C2: Potentially Dangers, and C3: Non-Compliance.

Protect your investment

Getting your electrical work inspected periodically is a great preventive measure. With a qualified electrician inspecting and checking for any potential damage, you can fix the problems and avoid more expensive repairs. You can also avoid fire, shocks, and other related accidents. More importantly, you will be able to protect your asset and source of income.

Fire Alarm Testing – An Easy and Must-Have Process

Taking precautionary measures to reduce the risk of fire that may cause injuries is a vital step for anyone, be it a property owner or landlord giving his property on rent. So, it is mandatory to ensure that a properly functioning fire alarm system is installed in the building or apartment. The kind of system needed, depends on the type of building and its usage. Just like other electrical installations and appliances, an inspection of the fire alarm system regularly, is essential. It shall be noted that you need to get fire alarm testing conducted from certified electricians.

When it comes to the matter of fire alarm test, its frequency depends on the condition of the fire system installed in a building. Of course, the person called for a fire alarm check should have adequate experience in handling various types of fire alarms. Note that the accumulation of dust and other contaminants can cause problems with smoke detectors.

Steps of Fire Alarm Testing:

1. There is a need to test and regulate alarm sensors such as flame and smoke detectors. So, the electrician should have ample understanding of different sensors with their failure modes, testing necessities, and re-installation needs.
2. One should go for simulation of inputs and testing of the annunciators.
3. It is necessary to set sensitivity, which calls for knowledge of the particular system, its specifications and the fire detection theory.
4. Coordinate with the fire department for testing the input to their system.
5. Lastly, check the battery for its corrosion and expiration date.

The best thing about conducting a fire alarm test is that the system should be functional at the time of any emergency. This will help you in taking proper precautionary measures. Indeed, fire alarm systems help in protecting people, property and assets.

Electrical Certificate for Landlords – Safety and Security

A rental house comes with an obligation regarding the safety and security of your property. An electrical certificate for landlords acts as critical evidence that the house and its electrical installations have been adequately examined and tested for safety.

Legal duties as a landlord 

It is the responsibility of the landlords to provide electrical safe rental properties. Consequently, as per law, they are required to ensure a few necessary aspects.

• All electrical installation like plugs, internal wiring, light fixtures in a rented house is safe and in perfect condition when tenants move in.
• Periodic assessment and tests are undertaken by a qualified electrician on your rental properties at least every five years. It also includes safety inspection of Houses in Multiple Occupation or HMOs
• Various electric appliances provided for maintenance and portable units are safe and up to mark.

Safe and Secure Rental Properties 

Landlords must be well versed with various safety regulations required in the interest of your property as well as tenants. Regardless, if a landlord fails to secure an electrical safety certificate, the person will have to face legal and monetary consequences. As per law, if your property is found not compatible with electrical safety standards, you could be imposed on fines and penalties that could range from £ 5,000 fines (at least), six months of imprisonment, and nullified property insurance. And you can be accused of potential criminal charges if electrical safety negligence causes injury or casualty. So, in all cases, an electrical safety certificate landlord is necessary. To stay legitimate, local authorities must be pre-notified for any work that is about to commence. Otherwise, you can hire registered contractors or electricians that will inspect, approve, and issue an electrical certificate. The issued electrical certificate can safeguard you from the financial expense and, at the same time, ensure the security of your property.

The Electrical safety certificates for landlords are fundamental requirements because it is the legal duty of a landlord to get all electrical installations and appliances tested and maintained throughout the occupant’s tenancy. Obtaining the right electrical certificate for landlords will protect your house and your tenants from the possible hazards that electrical safety could result in.

EICR Report – Periodic Inspection and Testing

An EICR report or Electrical Installation Condition Report is a formal piece of documentation generated following a complete assessment of electrical installations within a home or a property. Electrical testing must be carried out by a qualified and competent electrician or an approved contractor who must likewise produce the certification. A “qualified” person must have taken the proper courses and training that cover periodic testing and inspection of electrical installations and must be registered with scheme providers to ensure their compliance with the latest standards of safety in the field. Only certified personnel with good working knowledge as well as experience around electrical installations can issue an EICR report for your property.

There are various reasons why home and property owners might request this kind of report. Whether or not you have an immediate need for an EICR report, having your latest documentation on standby in case you need it to prove compliance is highly recommended. This report can serve as proof that shows the safety of your electrical installations.

An EICR report is likewise recommended for all domestic properties. Homes must be checked and tested for electrical safety and condition at least every 10 years to keep electrical installations up-to-date with the latest safety standards and make sure that there’s no deterioration that could lead to disastrous results, when left unchecked and unaddressed. In some cases, an electrical inspection must be done more frequently, such as in the case of older installations, which make them more prone to damage. Depending on the type of property, certain parts of the electrical system might likewise need to be inspected more often, such as in the case of properties with swimming pools or those with unique environmental conditions. Vandalism or misuse of an electrical appliance or installation may likewise call for an inspection as well as a change in the usage or perhaps occupancy of a property. Periodic inspection and testing of your electrical installations provide property owners peace of mind that their electrical appliances are in good working condition and will not cause harm or damage to their property and its occupants.