Electrical safety standards

The Electrical Safety Standards mean that landlords with properties in Bradford, must ensure that electrical installations in their property are inspected and tested by a qualified electrician at least every 5 years. Landlords should get a report from the person who has carried out the inspection, called an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020 came in to force on 1 June 2020 and have applied to all tenancies from 1 April 2021. 

The regulations mean that landlords must ensure that national standards for electrical safety are met for any properties that they let out and that electrical installations in these properties are inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified and competent person (generally this means a properly qualified electrician). Electrical installations are things like the wiring, plug socket, light fittings and the fuse box or consumer unit. Landlords must check that someone is properly qualified before asking them to carry out any inspections and testing of electrical installations.

There are also other requirements on landlords in the regulations for instance about providing copies of the report from the qualified electrician to your tenants and carrying out any remedial work that needs to be done.  You can find more information on the requirements in the Guide for landlords published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The Council is responsible for enforcing the electrical safety standards within Bradford District and has the power to impose a penalty of up to £30,000 on any landlord who is in breach of their duties.