Up until now, electrical safety checks have always been a grey area.  There is currently no legislation that states they are compulsory in rental property, so this new piece of legislation is very welcome.  It will draw a line under the uncertainty and everyone will know what’s expected.  It is currently before Parliament and if it proceeds as we expect, it will become mandatory for any new tenancy from 1^st July 2020.  All existing tenancies must be brought into line before 1^st April 2021.

At Anglo American, we have already spoken to our electrician to make sure we are in a position to carry out these checks in good time to ensure that all our landlords remain fully compliant at all times. We don’t want to join the queue for an electrician at the last minute!! Our contractor will be able to carry out the testing for us and provide a fully detailed report which is required to be provided to all tenants at the point they move into the property, along with a current EPC and Gas safety certificate (if applicable).  The report will be held on file in our office and can be provided to you should you wish to keep a copy, also if the local authority request to see it to ensure compliance, it will be provided freely to them.  Failure to provide a copy of the report if requested may result in a maximum penalty of £30000!

As the testing and reports are quite detailed and time-consuming, we have priced them as follows, based on the size of the property:

• £120.00 plus VAT for a studio or a one-bedroom property
• £150.00 plus VAT for 2 and 3 bedroom properties
• £200.00 plus VAT for 4 plus bedroom properties

The certificates are valid for 5 years therefore based on the annual cost of a gas safety certificate (£66.00) are very fairly priced.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this, we will as always be happy to assist.