Petersfield Landlords – Electrical Safety Standards

Posted on January 20, 2020 by colin_williams

We know being a landlord is often a trying position. There is a considerable amount of work involved with the process of being a landlord, and we know it is hard to keep up with regulations. At Williams of Petersfield, we aim to provide a service which ensures you remain up to date with all regulations, which is why we are keen to inform you of The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.

While the House of Commons and the House still have to approve the regulations, it is very likely they will come into effect from the 1^st of July 2020. All new tenancies which begin on or after this date are required to have a five-year electrical certificate in place. This test must be carried out by a registered electrician.

Landlords must renew the certificate by the stated date in the report

While the standard renewal period is five years, if the certificate recommends the property be tested in less than five years, this will be the relevant renewal date that landlords must abide by. All new tenancies is set to include renewals, and tenancies which become statutory periodic tenancies.

All existing tenancies must comply with the regulations from the 1^st of April 2021.

If landlords are familiar with the regulations associated with Gas Safety, they will have a good understanding of what is required from them with Electrical Safety. When the landlord receives the certificate, a copy must be provided to the tenant within 28 days. At the start of a tenancy, the landlord must provide a new tenant with a copy of the certificate. During the letting phase, potential new tenants have the right to request a copy of the electrical safety certificate.

Local authorities can request a copy of the electrical safety certificate

Landlords should be aware local authorities have the right to request a copy of the electrical safety certificate. If a local authority requests a copy, the landlord should provide a copy within seven days.

When remedial work is required in a rental property, it must be carried out within 28 days or by the date stated in the report. The date which comes first is the relevant date for carrying out work. When remedial work has been completed, landlords should receive written confirmation of the upgrades. A copy of this confirmation should be provided to tenants and the local council, if requested.

Any landlord that fails to comply with the new regulations faces a fine of up to £30,000; which will be imposed by the local council.

We know landlords must comply with a lot of regulations, and having more matters to comply with is far from ideal. However, many people in the industry, including landlords, have been calling out for this style of test. If you are a landlord in or around Petersfield, and you need support in managing your rental property, contact Williams of Petersfield, and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Petersfield Landlords: Be Prepared For New Electrical Safety Checks

Posted on August 9, 2018August 16, 2018 by colin_williams

It is important that landlords remain up to date and fully information of all regulations that impact on their business. While many of these regulations make sense and create better living conditions for tenants, the fact that there are so many new regulations and updates to consider, places landlords under considerable pressure. Even landlords who are keen to fully comply with regulations sometimes struggle to remain up to date, but Williams of Petersfield aims to assist Petersfield landlords remain fully informed.

While there is no date announced for rented properties to have electrical installations tested every five years, it looks likely to be implemented soon. There have been various calls for this measure to be introduced over the year with the most recent occurring at the end of 2017. It is likely that this move, backed by a variety of working groups from leading industry bodies, has shaped the recent Government decision.

New measures will be introduced soon for Petersfield landlords to be aware of

The plans were introduced by James Brokenshire, the Housing Secretary, alongside a package of measures which are aimed at improving the standard of building safety. It was also announced that there will be a consultation in building regulations, with this arising from the review undertaken by Dame Judith Hackitt. Very few people would argue against improving standards with respect to rental accommodation but there is a need to ensure that landlords can make these changes and alterations without harming their own business.

The news has been welcomed by the Electrical Safety First group, with their Director General Phil Buckle stating; “We are delighted the Government has finally recognised the importance of regular electrical checks in the private rental sector which protects both tenants and landlords. Electrical Safety First has led the charge for this to be made a legal requirement for UK homes and successfully lobbied for these to be introduced in the PRS in Scotland – with Wales and Northern Ireland set to follow suit.” This is a group that has lobbied for these changes, so are understandably pleased with this outcome.

MPs from all parties have backed these plans

The organisation was quick to point out that their calls for these tests have been supported by 71% of MPs, which includes support from all political parties in the country. With this sort of backing, it was always likely that these changes would be passed, and it is another issue that Petersfield landlords will have to consider.

By itself, these additional checks on electrical appliances shouldn’t cause too much bother but it is the fact that there are so many tests and checks for landlords to deal with which creates a problem. If you are a landlord in Petersfield who is struggling to remain fully informed about what you need to do to run your business, contact Williams of Petersfield. We are local lettings specialists and we are here to provide you with the support and guidance you need to run your business in an effective manner.

Landlords: Ready For 2018 EPC Regulation Changes?

Posted on December 8, 2017December 6, 2017 by colin_williams

It is important that landlords keep up to date with all of the changes with respect to rules and regulations of their industry. There have been many changes in recent times but any landlord who felt that 2018 was going to be slightly easier will probably want to think again. As of the 1^st of April 2018, there will be big changes relating to the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating for new lets.

The change is related to the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations of 2015 and the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards or MEES, which are being introduced. The change comes into effect for new lets and renewals of tenancies from the 1^st of April of 2018 and by the 1^st of April 2020, this regulation will be applicable to all existing tenancies. The minimum rating for these tenancies will be an E rating and if a landlord doesn’t comply with the regulations, they may face a civil penalty of up to £4,000.

Know the full regulations regarding the MEES

There are some exemptions where a landlord will be able to let property that holds a lower EPC rating than this, and these exemptions include:

Where a third party has to provide agreement for improvements to be undertaken and they don’t
Where work carried out on the property would lower the value of the property by at least 5% (this will be evaluated by an independent professional)
Where all possible improvements have been carried out and the property still falls below the EPC rating
Where the landlord would be left out of pocket

It is essential that landlords are aware that there are grants and funding on offer to ensure they comply with the regulations. The exemptions can only exist for a maximum of five years and they are not able to be transferred over to another landlord.

It makes sense to improve the EPC rating of your property

There is a lot to be said for improving the energy efficiency rating of a property and this is true for landlords and tenants. A real benefit to the tenant comes with the fact that moving from a G rating to an E rating can lower the average annual heating bills by more than £1,000. This is something that will please a tenant and may help them stay in the property for a longer period. This will be of benefit to the landlord, minimising void periods and ensuring that they have less work to do.

A landlord can also take comfort in knowing that their property is in better condition, it’s value should have improved and they will likely be able to raise rental fees with some justification.

We know that things are difficult for landlords at the moment and if you need any assistance or guidance, please get in touch with Williams of Petersfield and we will do our best to help you out. This is just one of the many changes that landlords have had to deal with but we are on hand to ensure you know what you need to know.