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.
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