Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations for Landlords   

Even though there is no law in the UK that requires a landlord to have an electrical safety certificate in London, he or she is compelled to make sure that all electrical equipment and fixtures inside the property are safe and secure to use. Landlords are bound by the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 1994 and the Plugs and Sockets Regulation 1994, both of which are parts of The Consumer Protection Act 1987.

Non-compliance may result in the following penalties:

• A £5000 fine and/or 3 months imprisonment if an animal is hurt
• A £5000 fine and/or 6 months imprisonment if a person is hurt or killed

When any of the above condition occurs, further action may also be undertaken such as:

• A criminal charge can be filed in the event of death
• A civil case can also be filed by an occupant
• Cancellation of the property’s insurance

Although there is no law stating that electrical equipment should be checked by a certified electrician, landlords are still obliged to guarantee the safety of their electrical equipment. Thus it is highly recommended that this equipment along with plugs and sockets is checked by a qualified electrician periodically to avoid penalties.

If you are a landlord, you can follow these preventive measures:

• Thoroughly check second hand appliances
• Inspect all fuses making certain they are of the right capacity and list them in the inventory
• Supply your tenant with only the basic electrical equipment and make sure they are all in good working condition
• Post warning notices on electrical equipment you have supplied
• Keep on hand the operating instructions of your electrical equipment
• Ensure that proper grounding are applied and in place
• Make certain that plugs and sockets comply with BS1363 standards
• Check to see if flexes are properly connected to the appliances
• Show the tenants the location of the circuit breaker

Here are some more things a landlord should know:

• A landlord should present an annual portable appliance testing (PAT) certificate for every appliance in the rented property with multiple occupants
• Any electrical equipment that has been repaired must be PAT tested with the appropriate sticker
• All electrical equipment that was acquired second hand must have a PAT certificate
• It is not permitted by law to do any electrical work in areas that are firmly covered by building regulations e.g. bathroom and kitchen areas. When an accident happens because of electrical work, cancellation of your insurance will follow

Part P of the Building Regulations legislated in January of 2005 states that for some definite kinds of electrical work in houses and allied structures like sheds, garages and greenhouses, they must meet the set standards. When such work is needed to be done and you would like to apply the do-it-yourself principle because you want to save some money, you must first be a member of any Competent Person Self Certification system endorsed by the government or tender a building note to the local authority prior to any electrical work.

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