Lets Talk Electrics!

DO Check that your property is safe for your tenant to move in!
As with Gas Safety check a property must have had an Electrical Safety Inspection at the start of the tenancy and be issued with an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report). A word of warning though, don’t leave it until the last minute to try to organise this especially if you are a Landlord that manages your own property.  Electricians are busy, even as Agents we have had to throw the net wider to ensure we have EICR’s in place in good time for the start of new tenancies.  Obviously, all existing tenancies will have these in place after they became regulation for ALL tenancies in April 2021.
More and most importantly leaving it until the 11th hour can backfire if your result is anything other than ‘satisfactory’, not good if you have tenants ready to move in the day after (or even day) of the inspection.  I know that sounds crazy, but it has been happening, it’s not enough to ‘tick’ the EICR box, your property must be safe, don’t’ get caught out!
If the result of the EICR is ‘unsatisfactory’ and a Code C1 (danger present) then you cannot move anyone into that property.  C3 code (improvement recommended) is ok to move in but your electrician will have included recommendations for things that need doing.  The C2 code (potentially dangerous) is an interesting one because an electrician will likely tell you that it is ok to move a tenant in as long as the remedial work is ‘booked in and within 28 days’ of the inspection. Five different electricians have told me that recently when I make that enquiry out of interest.  They are not wrong to say that, HOWEVER, as a Landlord do you want to take that risk?  If anything should happen to that tenant and worst case scenario a fatality it would be you Mr Landlord liable and not the electrician.  As an agent I certainly would not want to put myself or you Mr Landlord in that position. If you haven’t got an agent doing this for you, ensure you ask the visiting electrician to supply a quote (whilst he is there preferably) for anything that does need doing urgently, or even for them to call you from the property, they might have the time to do it there and then!  Good advice …do NOT agree a move in date until you know you have well and truly ‘ticked’ this box and your property is safe for your tenants.
A couple of ‘myths’ whilst on the subject. Agents will know this but Mr Landlord managing himself may not.  
You do NOT need a new EICR for the start of every new tenancy, the EICR last for 5 years and is attached to the property not the tenant
If you have an ‘unsatisfactory’ you do NOT need another EICR after works have been completed but the engineers report and I suggest the invoice on file with the original EICR is sufficient if it has addressed all of the issues raised.
Mr Landlord please tick all those safety boxes before agreeing a move in, you can avoid last minute panics and blips and more importantly, sleep soundly.