Are regulatory requirements getting the better of your buy-to-let? For many years, the utmost safety aspect in the private rental sector was gas safety but there has been a leveling up of late and now electrical standards are of equal concern.
What is an EICR?
The Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR, as it is commonly known, is an assessment that measures the health and safety aspect of electrical installations - and the current condition of an electrical system - in a residential property. Potential defects in an electrical system, which could potentially pose a danger to tenants, will be highlighted during an assessment and will be featured in the subsequent report.
It’s worth noting that recommended investigated or remedial work detailed in an EICR must be carried out within 28 days or within the period specified in the report if sooner – starting from the date of the inspection – with only a qualified trade able to undertake the work.
Is it compulsory for landlords to have an EICR?
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 now applies to all tenancies in England, and an EICR has been a mandatory requirement since 1st April 2021 in order to achieve legal compliance. You can read about this legislation in our blog here.
Not only is the report a compulsory compliance point, landlords also have to adhere to a strict paperwork protocol. This includes:
- supplying the EICR to each existing tenant on the premises within 28 days of the inspection
- supplying a copy of the EICR to the local housing authority within 7 days of receiving a request from the authority
- retaining a copy of the EICR to give to the qualified person that carries out the next inspection and test
- supplying a copy of the most recent EICR to new tenants and to prospective tenants who request to see it.
Non-compliance can jeopardise the safety of tenants, leave landlords open to legal action and result in a fine of up to £30,000, so it’s not worth skipping the EICR step.
Can I sell even if my property doesn’t have an EICR?
A survey by the National Residential Landlords Association showed 72% of landlords had commissioned an EICR over the last 12 months but are you one of the 28% who doesn’t have one?
If you’re not confident your buy-to-let will pass an EICR assessment – or you don’t have the funds or inclination to make the repairs stipulated – you can sell a rental property for cash to LandlordBuyer, even without an EICR.
We are more than happy to make a cash offer on a property where an EICR is missing – saving landlords the hassle and worry of booking an assessment and implanting potentially costly improvement works.
Sell property fast & with any issue
Not only will LandlordBuyer make a cash offer for an investment property where there is no EICR - or where the electrics are in a poor state of repair - we will buy ‘problem properties’, including those with sitting tenants, lets where there are arrears, buy-to-lets with sitting tenants and houses in inhabitable conditions. All we need is the address of the property to provide a free, no-obligation valuation. If you’d like to know more about how LandlordBuyer works, contact us today.