An electrical certificate is legally required for landlords who have owned rented properties since June 1, 2020. The guidelines for electrical safety standards in the private rented sector can be found on the official GOV—UK website.

In essence, private landlords must obtain a satisfactory electrical certificate to guarantee the safety of their tenants during their tenancy.

To obtain an electrical certificate, hiring a qualified and competent engineer, preferably from a company associated with a governing body such as the NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting), is necessary. Registered engineers undergo annual inspections to maintain high standards.

Electrical certificates, or EICRs (Electrical Installation Condition Reports), compare your installation to the current electrical standards. In the UK, these standards are defined in BS7671, commonly referred to as “the regs,” which outline the requirements for electrical installations.

During the assessment, the engineer will inspect the consumer unit (fuse box) and all electrical accessories connected to the system, including cooker sockets, available sockets, and light points.

The process of obtaining an electrical certificate involves three inspections. The first is a visual examination of the consumer unit and connected accessories. The second is a dead test, which assesses cable conditions and takes readings while the installation is not powered. The final inspection includes live testing and functional testing of circuits and RCDs (Residual Current Devices).

If any faults are identified, they are typically categorized as follows:

• C1: Immediately dangerous.
• C2: At risk.
• C3: Improvement recommended.
• FI: Further investigation required.

The certificate is deemed unsatisfactory if a C1, C2, or FI fault is found.

C1 faults usually involve exposed live conductors, such as broken sockets with live conductive parts or cables protruding from walls.

C2 faults are not immediately dangerous but could pose a risk if left unaddressed, such as broken sockets without exposed live parts or single insulated cables.

C3 recommendations are not safety issues but should be resolved at the landlord’s convenience, such as relocating a socket outlet or improving access to certain areas.

Further investigation indicates that something beyond the report’s scope requires particular attention, and additional work is necessary to identify the cause.

Assuming the certificate is satisfactory, the engineer can endorse the installation for 3-5 years, depending on the risk assessment and the presence of safety devices like RCDs.

If you require a quote for an electrical certificate, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

(Note: The above content has been paraphrased to avoid plagiarism. However, please ensure to double-check and verify the accuracy and completeness of the information provided.)