Why an Electrical Certificate is a Legal Requirement For Private Landlords
A certificate of electrical safety certifies that the electrical systems in your home are safe to use. It is required by law for all rental properties and gives you peace of mind.
After an electrician has tested the electrical system of your property the certificate will be issued. The test can take up to two hours dependent on the size of your home.
It is an official requirement
Private landlords across the UK must comply with the new Electrical Safety Certificate Regulations. As of April 2021, all tenancies, including licences to be occupied and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), must comply with the regulations.
The law states that all electrical installations must be inspected and checked on a regular basis to ensure the safety of tenants. This includes all electrical installations including distribution boards consumer units, fuses, and isolator switch.
These tests should not be repeated more than every five years. Tenants must be provided with the results immediately. If there are any problems discovered in these tests the landlord should fix them quickly and then test them again within 28 days.
An experienced electrician can conduct an electrical inspection for your landlord and check your lighting fittings, sockets and circuits. They should be able inform you if the installation is safe and if any repairs are required before the rental property can be available for rental.
After the work is complete, the inspector will report the inspection and test as an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). The EICR doesn't have to be in a particular format, but it should contain all relevant details.
This is a great idea if you are selling your home and need to highlight any possible safety concerns, so potential buyers can determine whether it's a suitable buy. It's also a useful document when you're trying to seek compensation for injuries or fire that was caused by an electrical fault in your home.
Keep a copy of the certificate in your residence can also prove that any safety checks for electrical equipment have been carried out, and that any remedial work required have been completed to a satisfactory standard. This is especially important if you are planning to make a claim against a tenant that has suffered injury.
Despite the cost of obtaining an electrical certificate, it is a fairly small price to pay for the safety of your tenants and future buyers of your property. In fact, the cost of not taking care to ensure the safety of your tenants and future buyers is far more costly.
It is a safety measure
An electrical certificate is a document that shows that an electrical installation is operating in accordance with a safe standard. It is a legal requirement and can be used as evidence against claims in the event of a accident or fire.
The UK government has introduced new regulations in the Private Rented Sector Regulations 2020. The regulations required landlords to conduct routine inspections and update their electrical inspection report each five years. These rules aim to shield tenants from the dangers electrical faults can pose and to reduce the liability of landlords.
One reason for these regulations is that electrical faults are a leading cause of fires in homes. To prevent such incidents it is crucial that all electrical installations are examined regularly by a licensed electrician.
This involves conducting an electrical inspection and a safety report for each property. The reports will identify any concerns or issues that need to be addressed before the installation can be certified as being in compliance with the relevant standards.
Being up-to-date with these inspections ensures that landlords will be able identify any small problems and make the necessary repairs right immediately. This can help avoid more costly, larger problems from arising later.
Another benefit of electrical certificates is that they can give landlords peace of that their property is safe and meets safety standards. This is particularly important if there are disputes with tenants as it can help to prove you have taken all reasonable precautions to ensure the property is safe.
It also indicates that your electrical system is in good working order. This is particularly important when your home is in a rented housing like a residential or apartment block. Any work to the electrical system should be approved by the local authority building control department.
Traditionally electrical inspectors use paper to record their findings and observations, then they would need go back to the office and manually examine each piece of data before writing an electrical certification report. This can take a significant amount of time and may cause critical data to be lost or damaged. By using a software solution such as Clik's NICEIC Cert Software, the process can be automated and completed much quicker, reducing possibility of errors.
It's a peace mind
An electrician should hold an electrical certificate. They provide security for both you and your customer. They can be used to prove that the job was completed to a high quality, and is in compliance with all legal requirements. Additionally keeping a copy of your electrical certificate can help you to save money on any future work, should a claim be made in the event of an accident.
It can make you appear more professional and increase your standing as an experienced technician. It can also save you time and sanity in the area of paperwork, so you can concentrate on the most important aspects of your job, which in turn makes for happier clients and less stressful work for you.
There are many reasons to buy good quality electrical certificate software. The greatest benefit is that it can be completed from your laptop or desktop with your mobile device connected. Using an app such as Clik Cert Electrical means you can complete all of your certification jujitsu on the go, no matter where in the country you are located. electric certificate makes use of the touch screen as well as a customer database stored in the cloud to automatically fill in all the required fields. This saves both engineers and office staff time.
It saves money
A certified electrician who can carry out an electrical installation condition report (EICR) on your property will save money in the long term. These reports can show whether the electrical circuits of a commercial or residential property are in good order and also alert you to possible fire or electric shock dangers.
They could also be used as evidence if an insurance claim is filed against your insurance provider for injuries or fires that was caused by an electrical malfunction and also serve as the basis for any subsequent inspection or testing. They are an essential element of any electrical safety plan.
Another reason why you should obtain a certification is that it will assist you in attracting potential customers and increase their confidence in your services. Having a certification is a sign that you've achieved a high amount of experience and an experienced electrician, which can be very beneficial to your career.
The cost of an electrical certificate is affected by a number of factors, including the size and the extent of the property and whether it requires wiring or not. The cost of more complex work will be higher.
There are additional labour costs to be paid to conduct the EICR and they can add up significantly in the event of a significant amount of work needed. This will also depend on the area to be covered and if the job is being performed on a residential or commercial property.
It can be quite a task to produce certificates and it can be expensive, but If you make use of software that lets you digitally fill in your electrical certificates and you'll be able to save time and money. With just a few clicks or taps, your certificates are completed and you can be certain of having professional-looking forms each time.
The use of electrical certificate software won't just reduce time, but will also boost your brand's visibility. It's simple to add your logo to your electrical certificates, which can increase your visibility and ensure that people remember you and contact you in the event of needing an electrician.