As a landlord in the United Kingdom, you are legally bound to provide a safe and liveable home for your tenants. You’ll likely be aware of the many health and safety laws that you need to abide by and some of these are in relation to an EICR.
Being able to prove that your property is safe is a great way to attract new tenants and keep them happy for the duration of their stay.
You may be familiar with recent laws stating that UK landlords must have a valid EICR but does this also apply when new tenants move in?
What Are The Laws Regardings EICRs and Landlords In The UK?
In April 2021, it became mandatory for all UK landlords to have an up-to-date EICR for each of their properties. These rules are still relatively new and have been the cause of some confusion for landlords.
However, it’s worth quickly familiarising yourself with the laws as not complying could see you being hit with a fine of up to £30,000!
When you have an EICR done, it must be carried out by a qualified electrician and the report must indicate whether the property is satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
In the event that remedial work is required, this must be reported to the local authority and you have 28 days in which to have the work completed. If you do not, the local authority may go ahead and arrange the work at your expense, along with any relevant penalties. Upon completion of the work, you must again provide a report to the local authority.
It’s also worth noting that where very serious faults are discovered, you may be given a shorter timeframe in which to have the work completed.
How Often Do I Need A New EICR As A UK Landlord?
As a UK landlord, you are required to have a new EICR every five years. However, there are some landlords that like to have the test carried out more frequently and there’s nothing wrong with that.
If you reach the five-year time limit and fail to have a new EICR carried out then you are again liable to be hit with a large fine. Considering the cost of an EICR and the peace of mind it gives to your tenants, it’s not something worth leaving until the last minute.
So, Do I Need A New EICR When New Tenants Move In?
If you have new tenants moving into your property then you may have been told that you have to have a new EICR.
The truth is that, as long as the property has been inspected within the last five years, you’re not obliged to carry out a new EICR since the previous one will still be considered to be in date and valid.
That said, it can often be a good idea to have a new EICR every time you have new tenants as this gives both you and your tenants peace of mind. But I’ll discuss this in a little more detail in the following section.
If you do decide to go ahead and have a new EICR for your new tenants then it’s worth keeping in mind that the property may be deemed unsatisfactory. Many landlords then ponder whether they should allow their tenants to move in before the remedial work has been completed.
While you wouldn’t be breaking any laws by allowing this to happen, it isn’t recommended. It may be a tricky situation if the tenant is keen to get into the property but it’s always best to have the work completed to ensure their safety.
Moreover, since emergency work needs to be completed within a 28 day period, this shouldn’t delay things too much.
What Are The Benefits Of Having A New EICR For New Tenants?
As a landlord, your tenants need to know that they can trust you. When people move into your property, their lives are literally in your hands. If you fail to remain compliant with the law then there is a risk of a devastating accident and this isn’t something you want on your shoulders.
Even if you have new tenants moving in just 12 months after your last EICR, there is a risk that something may have gone wrong during this time. Having a new EICR will identify problems before your tenant moves in and will give you the opportunity to put things right.
Not only is this beneficial to the safety of your new tenants but it also demonstrates that you are a responsible and caring landlord that’s willing to go above and beyond for your tenants. If you’re looking to build a positive reputation, it’s things like this that can help.
If you have had tenants in the property since the last EICR that are now moving out, the mere wear and tear on the electrical installation could have resulted in new problems that weren’t previously identified.
So, while you aren’t required by law to have a fresh EICR for every new tenant (provided the last one was completed no longer than five years ago), it’s definitely recommended.
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