East Suffolk Council
Electrical Safety
Electrical safety in privately rented property
From 1 June 2020, if you are beginning a new tenancy in a privately rented home, you must be provided with a copy of a satisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) by your landlord before you move in. This EICR must have been carried out in the last five years.
If you have an existing tenancy on the 1 June 2020, your landlord has until 1 April 2021 to provide you with a copy of the same.
Your landlord must also:
- obtain a report from the person conducting that inspection and test, which gives the results of the inspection and test and the date of the next inspection and test
- supply a copy of that report to each existing tenant of the residential premises within 28 days of the inspection and test
- supply a copy of that report to the local housing authority within 7 days of receiving a request in writing for it from that authority
- retain a copy of that report until the next inspection and test is due and supply a copy to the person carrying out the next inspection and test; and
- supply a copy of the most recent report to:
- any new tenant of the specified tenancy to which the report relates before that tenant occupies those premises; and
- (any prospective tenant within 28 days of receiving a request in writing for it from that prospective tenant.
If you believe your landlord has failed to provide you with an EICR, or you believe there are works which have not been carried out that were recommended by the professional carrying out the report, please report it to our Private Sector Housing team, who have powers under new legislation to issue a Remedial Notice, or have existing powers under the Housing Act, to ensure that your property is safe and that any necessary repairs or works are carried out.
For landlords who do not comply with the new requirements, and are subject to enforcement action, they may be liable for a financial penalty of up to £30,000.