Introduction of FWTs July 2020

Are you a property owner with a rental property in England?  If so, did you know that from the 1^st July 2020 all new tenancies for private rental properties must have had a Fixed Wiring Test carried out by a qualified electrician.  If you own a private rental property, that is already rented, then you must have had a Fixed Wiring Test carried out by 1^st April 2021.  These tests must then be repeated at an interval of at least every five years.  The report that is required is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).  Costs for these tests will vary from one electrician to anther and will depend on the type, age and size of property. However, you should expect to pay from £75 for a small straightforward property to over £150 for a larger more complex one.

Once an inspection has been completed, you must supply a copy of the report within 28 days to your tenant.  You must also provide a copy to the local authority, if requested, within 7 days.

If you are moving a new tenant into a property, you must supply a copy of the report to them before they move in.  Also, if requested, you must provide a copy to a prospective tenant within 28 days.

If the report identifies that work is required, this must be carried out within 28 days of the test being completed, or earlier, if the report requires it.  A further report must be provided by the electrician to confirm that the works required have been completed. The tenant must also be given a copy of the additional report within 28 days.

Local Authorities will be responsible for enforcing the new Regulations and can impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 if they find a landlord is in breach of their duty.   Local Authorities have the power to serve remedial notices on the private landlord.  If the remedial notice is ignored by the private landlord and action is not taken within 28 days, the Local Authority can arrange remedial work to be carried out, with consent from the tenant, and recover the costs from the landlord.

If you would like further advice on these new regulations please contact us at Northwood Wirral Limited – wirral@northwooduk.com or  on 0151 348 4527.

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