In January 2020, the Government announced a big shake-up of electrical safety requirements for private landlords in England.

The new regulations were officially brought in on 1^st April 2020 and applied to all new tenancies as of 1^st July 2020. There was a delay in regulations being applied to existing tenancies and this change comes into effect on 1^st April 2021.

This means that all new and existing privately rented properties must have an up-to-date and compliant Electrical Safety Condition Report (EICR) in place. Not doing this, risks both a fine of up to £30,000 and the possibility that an eviction may not be able to be upheld leading to sitting tenants.

It has been mandatory for HMOs to have a valid electrical certificate since October 2018 and extending this to all properties is a positive move as it helps give additional protection to tenants.

As well as ensuring tenants have been evidently provided with a copy of the certificate at the start of their tenancy, landlords have a number of obligations. You can read the regulations in full on the gov.uk website here and we have provided an outline of the key points below:

• Ensure that inspections are carried out by a qualified professional
• Ensure any works identified are carried out within 28 days (or sooner if specified within the report)
• Make sure that the property is inspected every five years (or sooner if specified within the report)
• Retain copies of reports on file for reference as required
• Retain a copy of the report to give to the inspector and tester who will undertake the next inspection and test
• Evidently supply a copy of the report to each tenant within 28 days of the inspection

We work with a large number of landlords who are either re-mortgaging an existing property or portfolio as well as landlords who require a mortgage to expand their portfolio or purchase their first buy-to-let property and have a number of specialist products that suit a range of situations.

If you would like to discuss a buy-to-let mortgage, our team is on hand to provide support and assistance as required. You can either call us on 01322 553282 or contact us online.