Electrical Safety Standards, EICR certificate cost and legal obligations for providing compliance paperwork in the private rental sector are to take effect on July 1, 2020, when new rules are implemented. This implies that landlords in England and Wales are now required to have an EICR examination performed on their rental premises every five years by an adequately certified individual.
New tenants must be given an EICR certificate with an EICR certificate cost before they may move into a property, as well. Additionally, regardless of whether or not their lease began before the requirements went into effect, all renters should have received a copy of a valid EICR by April 1, 2021.
In order to assist you in meeting your legal duties, we’ve put together the following advice on EICR certifications and the most current legislative amendments.
The Essence of EICR Certificate Cost?
After a thorough examination of the EICR certificate cost, electrical systems of a commercial, residential, or industrial building, an electrician or electrical engineer will create an EICR as a legally binding record. In certain circles, it’s also known as the Landlord Safety Test or the Homebuyers Test.
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector mandate an EICR for all rental premises, and this is now a legal requirement. All private landlords are required by law to ensure that all electrical systems are in functioning order. They are to ask for the EICR certificate cost from the awarding organisation.
The purpose of an EICR certificate cost is to know how much to pay and to verify that all of the property’s electrical systems and equipment have been appropriately installed, are safe, and are being properly maintained. It’s a valuable tool for evaluating a wide range of assets, from a single-family house to a large industrial complex.
Why are EICRs so important?
In order to determine a property’s overall electrical safety, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) must be obtained. The report is the result of a thorough investigation by a licensed electrician.
Installations are inspected visually and tested to ensure they are safe and meet regulatory standards, which the electrician will verify. A potentially dangerous issue will be included in the report with the relevant recommendation code and repair action will be recommended to the landlord if an electrician finds it. The next inspection date will be listed on the certificate as well. This can only be done after you have been told the EICR certificate cost.
PAT Testing of the property’s portable appliances (i.e., those that can be moved and unplugged) is not included in an EICR examination. White goods and other appliances must be safe to use if they are offered for use in a rental home.
However, tenants are not needed to undergo a PAT test or present any documents unless explicitly required by a local government licence. As a result, frequent appliance inspections are still recommended to protect the safety of your renters. Injuries or damage to property caused by malfunctioning appliances can be brought against the landlord for carelessness.
In what ways do the new guidelines vary from the old ones in terms of EICR certificate cost?
Rental property owners have always required to maintain the safety of their properties before and during the course of any tenancy and might be deemed criminally liable in the case of injuries to renters caused by malfunctioning electrical systems. However, landlords were previously not required by law to conduct frequent EICR evaluations or give any evidence to tenants unless they were renting a residence under multiple occupancy (HMO).
Landlords who rent out private rental property in England will be required to conduct EICR inspections every five years starting in July 2020, pay the eicr certificate cost, and must give renters a copy of the certificate. Among other things, landlords must demonstrate compliance by completing everything as it regards the EICR certificate cost.
After paying the EICR certificate cost, get a certificate from a competent assessor (electrician) stating the findings of the inspection and the date of the next needed inspection. For new tenancies beginning after July 1, and for current tenancies beginning after April 1, 2021, this must be done by 1st July for new tenancies and 1st April 2021 for existing leases.
Incoming residents should be given a copy of the EICR prior to moving in.
Within 28 days following the inspection, deliver a copy of the new EICR to the building’s residents.
If a copy of your EICR is requested to confirm you have paid the eicr certificate cost, you have seven days to provide it to the local authorities before you risk fines.
If a tenant requests an EICR in writing, you must deliver it to them within 28 days.
Within 28 days after receiving a request for an EICR from a prospective occupier (e.g. a potential buyer), provide an EICR.
What if I already have an EICR?
If an EICR certificate is less than five years old, that means you have paid the EICR certificate cost. It will be valid under new rules, according to a government clarification requested by the Residential Landlords’ Association.
It is important to analyse the electrician’s remarks in the report and assess how the state of your property has changed from the last inspection. There should be a second inspection if there has been a significant alteration (such as large building work or extensive wear and tear during a rental).
Due to age, wear & tear, and environmental variables, electrical systems can degrade. In order to ensure the safety of your tenants, you should have an updated EICR. The report will be valid until the next inspection date mentioned if no significant modifications are made.
What happens if my property does not pass the EICR test?
As stated in the rules, the attending electrician is required to further investigate or remediate any safety standards violations within 28 days or sooner if their report advises that they do so.
The landlord must do the following when the essential work has been completed:
- Make sure that a qualified person has signed off on the work and that either electrical safety requirements have been satisfied or that additional investigation or corrective work is needed.
- Within 28 days following the completion of the work, provide each occupant of the property with a written confirmation and a copy of the initial report needing investigative or remedial work.
- Provide the local housing authority with the same written confirmation and a copy of the original report within 28 days of the completion of the repairs.
Until electrical safety standards are met, the preceding process must be repeated if any more investigation or corrective work is found to be necessary.
What kind of repercussions may there be if there were any infractions?
Renters’ safety falls within the purview of local government agencies, which are tasked with enforcing regulations and possessing a range of responsibilities.
First, if the local government conducts an investigation into a potential breach and finds that the property requires non-urgent repair work, they must give notice to the landlord. The landlord has 28 days from the date of the notice to perform the work. Within 21 days of receiving the remedial notice, the landlord has the option of lodging an appeal to the local authorities. After the local government has responded, the obligation to carry out the work is delayed until the response is received, which must occur within seven days.
In this case, the local authority can enter the house with the consent of the tenants to carry out the necessary repairs if they are satisfied at the conclusion of the notice period (provided the remedial notice has not been withdrawn). The landlord will be billed for the work done by the local government.
Landlords can be billed for emergency remedial work if the local authority determines that the landlord is in violation of regulations and that remedial work is needed as soon as possible.
A civil penalty of up to £30,000 can be issued for each violation of an electrical safety rule by the local government.
Cost of an EICR in its entirety?
Factors that influence EICR rates include:
- Pricing varies based on location in the United Kingdom. London, the South East, and regions without a local electrician tend to charge the most for electrical work.
- Depending on the age of the property, it may take longer and cost more to do testing on older houses with obsolete wiring.
- Property size has a direct correlation to price. Electrical inspections might take longer in larger homes because of the number of electrical devices.
It is important to note that further recommendations and corrective work might lead to additional costs.
Three to four hours of site inspection and testing, followed by 1-3 hours producing the certificate and noting any flaws or violations and issuing a NICEIC Approved Contractors certificate will be included in this package.
Book your EICR Certificate with one of our qualified electricians in order to get your EICR inspection done properly. Through MyConstructor, you can compare prices and reviews in order to find the professional that suits your needs. We have gathered electricians all around the UK, so you can find one near you quick and easy.
