At Shrewsbury Electricians we’re dedicated to helping landlords, homeowners and commercial business owners stay on top of their legal requirements. We’ve written 1000s of electrical safety certificates throughout Shropshire, from Ludlow to Market Drayton, Shrewsbury, Telford and beyond. For more information about EICRs (Electrical Installation Conditioning Reports) and how it affects you, read on.
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What is an
Electrical Safety Certificate?
Electrical degradation is just a reality we have to live with. This is why electrical installations should be periodically inspected and tested every three to five years. The report is known as a domestic electrical installation condition report, EICR or electrical safety certificate and are a requirement for landlords.
What’s checked when producing a landlord electrical safety certificate (EICR)?
Reveal if any of your electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded.
- If any circuits or equipment are overloaded;
- checks for risk of electrical shock or fire hazards;
- look for defective electrical work; and
- identify if there’s a lack of earthing.
Within the landlord electrical safety certificate we also check that wiring and fixed electrical equipment are safe.
Who can carry out a landlord electrical certificate inspection?
An electrical safety certificate should be carried out by a registered local domestic or commercial electrician. The aim is to check the condition of a the electrics within a property against UK standard BS 7671:2008.
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Landlord
electrical safety certificates
A landlord electrical safety certificate is now a requirement for UK landlords since regulations came into force on 1 June 2020. The recommendation is for electrical certificates to be produced by a registered electrician on behalf of landlords is every 5 years or when there’s a change of tenant. Also known as an EICR, it’s a landlord’s obligation to make sure a property is safe to a tenant to use.
By law, your landlord electrical safety certificate (EICR) needs to cover:
- Electrical installations like sockets and light fittings are safe.
- Electrical appliances like cookers are safe and have a CE marking.
- Periodic inspection and testing should be carried out by registered electrician every five years.
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Common electrical
safety certificate checks
During a landlord electrical safety check, our electricians weill look at the following areas:
- Quality of earthing/bonding.
- Suitable fuse box/consumer unit
- Adequate modern switches, sockets and lighting fittings.
- The type and condition of wiring.
- Adequate identification and notices.
- Wear and tear.
- Changes that may have left the property unsafe.
Alongside the landlord electrical safety certificate (EICR) your local electrician will provide a series of recommendations based on observed damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliance. If you property is considered dangerous or potentially dangerous then remedial action is required immediately to remove the risk to tenants.
More info on electrical safety certificates
Do landlords need an EICR?
Without an electrical safety certificate (EICR) landlords can face the following actions:
- A fine of £5,000;
- imprisonment of six months;
- in the event of injury or death, they may face criminal charges; and
- invalidated property insurance.
Keeping a tenant safe is very important. By keeping on top of your property’s electrical installations, by following the electrical safety standard, you reduce the risk of damage to your property and reduce the frequency of new tenants.
How often should you perform an electrical safety check?
Keeping on top of your electrical safety certification.
Time frame for arranging electrical testing.
- 10 years for a homeowner
- 5 years for a rented property
- 3 years for a caravan
- 1 year for a swimming pool
A periodic inspection and electrical test certificate may need to be issued when:
- a property is being prepared for letting; or
- before selling a property or buying a property.
Commercial electrical safety certificates
A commercial electrical certificate is technically the same as a landlords electrical certificate in that, the owner of the premises holds responsibility for ensuring that the electrical systems are of satisfactory condition, which include:
- Any damage to the electrical systems.
- Deterioration in the electrical equipment.
- Dangerous systems or equipment that could fail.
- Outdated systems that don’t meet current regulations.
The law remains the same for those without a commercial electrical safety certificate. A commercial property should be checked at least once every three years or whenever a new tenant takes over the property.
Group discounts
At Shrewsbury Electricians we’re all about long-term business relationships. That’s why we offer discounts on supplying electrical safety certificates to groups such as:
- Landlords with more than one property
- Property management companies.
- Estate agents.
- HMOs.
- Private businesses.
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Other electrical
services
Shrewsbury Electricians offer a wide range of support for our domestic and commercial clients in Shrewsbury and Shropshire:
Fuse board and consumer unit upgrades
Wiring, re-wiring and extension wiring in old and new buildings
Electric underfloor heating and air conditioning
Electric showers, boiler wiring and storage heaters
Customer testimonials
The team carried out various electrical works at our property all to high standard. We will be definitely using Shrewsbury Electricians again.
Shrewsbury Electricians carried out a test and inspection at my rental property, they arrived on time and were very friendly. I received the certificate the following day.
Very pleased with the job. All completed to a high standard. Professional workmen, both reliable and friendly. I would highly recommend Shrewsbury Electricians.
What to look for when booking an electrical safety certification test
We’re usually able to make all callouts in a timely manner but on the rare occasion we can’t make it, we’re often asked if we can suggest a reliable electrician in Shropshire who can perform a landlord electrical safety test. Here’s what we tell our clients to look out for.
