Landlords must be prepared to deal with a high number of mandatory electrical checks, says national provider of property certificates PropCert.
This is in response to the surge in demand for rental properties since the lettings market reopened in May, which is set to continue. Electrical checks for new tenancies became mandatory as of 1st July 2020, as part of The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
PropCert says efficiency in processing electrical checks, can help to ensure contracts are granted quickly while remaining compliant with the new regulations.
Lettings boom looks set to stay
Tom Harrington, Managing Director of PropCert, says: “The surge in lettings demand appears to have extended beyond just a release of pent-up lockdown demand, becoming a sustained trend throughout the summer months.
“As we move towards autumn, which is traditionally a busy period for the market, there is nothing to suggest that high levels of market activity won’t continue as movers look to find homes which meet their new criteria and priorities.”
New tenancies mean more electrical checks
It is now a requirement for an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) to be carried out before the start of all new tenancies, with all fixed electrical installations inspected at least every five years by a qualified professional.
There are a range of other steps for landlords – or letting agents working on their behalf – to follow, including providing copies of EICRs to new tenants.
Harrington explains: “The new regulations mean that there is now a greater demand for professionals carrying out electrical checks than ever before. High tenant demand means that agents and landlords will be under pressure to get these checks completed quickly so moves aren’t delayed.
“Since the new rules were introduced in July, property professionals may have realised that they need to assess the electricians they work with and the processes they have in place to keep up with demand and remain compliant.”
Why agents need an efficient system in place
Harrington concludes: “Having access to a large pool of electricians is crucial as high tenant demand has a direct impact on the number of electrical checks which need processing.
“An efficient online system can help agents and landlords to manage their ever-growing workloads while knowing they are compliant with the new regulations.
“Ultimately, mandatory electrical checks have been introduced to protect tenants and landlords’ investments. Therefore, managing the process through trusted suppliers and using the services of the best-qualified electricians is in the interest of all stakeholders.”