Electric Certificates For Landlords - Your ResponsibilitiesIt's essential to maintain your property , especially if you're a landlord. You'll need to be sure that your electrics are up to certain standards.Landlords must have their electrical installations examined and tested on a regular basis by a certified person. These inspections are called EICRs, or electrical installation condition reports.Legal RequirementsLandlords have a lot of responsibilities to meet in order for their properties and tenants to be safe. Incorrect wiring is among the most frequent causes of house fires in the UK and so it is vital that you take the necessary steps to ensure your home's electrical systems are up to date.Landlords are legally required to ensure that the electrical system in their property is in good working order prior to giving it to tenants. This can prevent injuries or damage to your property, and help you save money on maintenance and repair bills in the long run.You will need to inspect and test your electrical installations as a landlord in order to comply with the legal requirements. This will require an electrician to visit your property to examine and test the electrics, and completing the report outlining any issues that were found and any remedial work that is required.The law stipulates that all tenants renting an apartment must receive a copy of the most recent report. You must also provide this to the local authority when it requests it.You don't have to get an electric certificate each time you let out your home, but when it's been five years or more since the last certificate was issued, then it may be required to conduct a new electrical safety inspection. The EICR is a document which contains the test results and any remedial work that has to be done, so it is vital to have it in the possession of your tenants and local authorities the information they need.It has been recommended that an EICR is collected every ten years. However, this has changed to a less strict five-year period starting in July 2020.If your tenancy was arranged prior to the new regulations, you aren't required to obtain a new electric certificate until April 2021. It is essential to have it updated as soon as is possible in the event that your tenancy gets extended or your previous one expires.How to keep your tenants safeWhen you let a property you own, you are responsible to ensure that the electrical systems are safe. This could mean hiring an engineer to visit the property and test the electrics.To ensure that your tenants are safe there are a few legal requirements you have to follow. This includes registering every person who uses gas appliances or flues on the Gas Safe Register. If you fail to adhere to these rules, you could face penalties from your local authority.It's also vital to have an expert, independent electrical inspection carried out by an electrician. This will allow you to detect any potential issues in your electrical system and can save you money in the event that something goes wrong.It is recommended to employ an electrician who is certified and licensed to inspect your electrical installation. Also, make electrical certificates that you have an EICR certificate in your possession after the inspection has been completed. This is a document that will show the landlord, the local authority and any other person who may require it that your electrical system was inspected according to the current regulations.This is a great way to avoid any future issues in the future with your home's electrical system. electrical certificates reduces the risk of injury or fire. To ensure that your tenants are safe you must provide a copy of the EICR.If the inspector has indicated any areas on your EICR that need improvement, you'll need to take action immediately. If the report has the C1 or C2 classification code and the report is deemed to be a C1 or C2 classification code, there immediate risk to your tenant or any other persons in the building and you have to do this remedial work in the shortest time possible.In addition, if you do not take action to resolve any problems found during the inspection, your local authority may issue an order to correct the problem and demand you to pay a penalty. This can be up to PS30,000.If your electrical installation is found to be in poor state the local authority will make the necessary recommendations to improve it. They will then serve a notice of remedial action to you, which will require you to adhere to their suggestions and make the necessary changes within a specified time frame.Maintaining your property in good ConditionMaintaining your property in well-maintained condition is one of your primary responsibilities as a landlord. Making sure you have the right maintenance methods in place will make your home more attractive to potential tenants and lessen the necessity for expensive repairs in the future. A good high-quality insurance policy will guard your property in the event that it is damaged due to an accident.It is essential to make the effort to examine your property to ensure you are not spending your hard-earned money on unnecessary repairs. Regular inspections of your home should include an inspection of the ceilings, walls, floors, and electrical installations. It is important to note that some appliances have a limited lifespan so it's important to replace them when necessary.Selecting the right electricians complete your inspection is a different way to ensure that you're getting the top quality work for your buck. A good rule of thumb is to pick an experienced company with at least 5 years experience and are members of the relevant trade bodies. The industry is very competitive so you'll want to to rely on the company you trust to do the job properly.How to Keep Yourself SafeElectric certificates are an essential element of your obligations as a landlord and you must always ensure that they're kept up to date. If you don't, you may be in serious legal trouble and lose the right to rent out your property. You could also be held accountable for any injuries that a tenant suffered in your property because of inadequate wiring.The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 1 June 2020 and required landlords to have their electrical installations inspected and tested by a qualified electrician as an obligation under the law. The first time this was introduced was to new tenancies. However, from April 2021 it will apply to existing leases too.During an inspection the electrician will look over your property to ensure that it is in compliance with all regulations and is in good order. They will also look for potential dangers.They will also inspect the security of your property's sockets or plugs, as well as fuse boxes. This will ultimately ensure that your tenants are secure from electrical hazards and help avoid any costly repairs in the future.The report will also include an assessment code to indicate the state of your installation. It will be able to tell you if it's satisfactory or unsatisfactory in that aspect. The classification code will give you a clear idea of the severity of any problems and If you have any concerns, you can seek advice from the electrician regarding what you should do.You can then have your electrics checked by the same electrician to ensure they meet the latest regulations and are in good shape. The report will contain an '5-year test and inspection' section, so you can use it to remind yourself of the time to conduct another EICR.If you receive an EICR, it will have the date that the electrician completed their work on your property, and this should help you remember when you need to have your home inspected. This will ensure that you don't fall foul of any legal requirements and will help you protect your investment.