Buy To Let
Government unveils strict landlord rules for electrical safety
Landlords offering private rental accommodation will have to comply with new rules for electrical inspections, or face ‘tough financial penalties’ under government plans.
Mandatory electrical checks must in future be carried out by competent and qualified inspectors, housing minister Heather Wheeler said.
The rules are designed to give tenants better protection and keep people safe in their homes.
Ministers will publish guidance that sets out the minimum qualifications needed for those carrying out the inspections.
Wheeler said: “Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their own home. While measures are already in place to crack down on the small minority of landlords who rent out unsafe properties, we need to do more to protect tenants.
“These new measures will reduce the risk of faulty electrical equipment, giving people peace of mind and helping to keep them safe in their homes.
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“It will also provide clear guidance to landlords on who they should be hiring to carry out these important electrical safety checks.”
The change is the latest in a series of measures targeting landlords and designed to push up the standards of private rented accommodation.
The Tenant Fees Bill, which comes into force on June 1, features a number of changes to the sector, including a ban on fees by landlords and agents.
And last week Wheeler warned estate agents to comply with referral fee rules or risk an outright ban on them.