Government Consultation on Electrical Safety in the Private Rental Sector 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government launched a consultation following eight recommendations from the Private Rented Sector Electrical Safety Working Group to improve electrical safety in rented properties across England. 

If you’re currently studying Law Lesson 5, you’ll recognise how national safety legislation evolves through consultations like this — ensuring consistent standards and reducing risk across all types of housing. 

The current state of electrical safety 

There are now over 4.7 million private rental households in England, representing about 20% of all homes. Despite that scale, landlords in England still face far fewer electrical safety requirements than those in Scotland, where since 2016 it’s been a legal duty to have a five-yearly Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) on all private rental properties. 

Wales is also following this model under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. 

Currently, in England, tenant protection relies on a small number of key regulations: 

• The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, requiring landlords to maintain safe electricity supplies. 

• Five-year inspections for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). 

• The Housing Act 2004, allowing local authorities to act on electrical h azards. 

• Compliance with BS 7671 Wiring Regulations, requiring RCD protection for new or rewired circuits. 

Alongside these, there are non-mandatory good practice guidelines encouraging visual checks, PAT testing of landlord-supplied appliances, and compliance with BS 7671 standards. However, many private landlords still don’t carry out these voluntary steps. 

For more on communication and compliance, see Communication Methods Lesson 5, which covers how regulations are communicated and enforced across sectors. 

Why the consultation matters 

With data showing that the risk of electric shock and domestic fire is significantly higher in private rentals than in social housing, the proposed measures aim to raise safety levels across the board. 

Introducing mandatory inspections could protect both tenants and landlords. Regular EICR reports not only keep tenants safe but also safeguard landlords’ properties by identifying faults early — before they become expensive or dangerous. 

The eight key recommendations 

The Working Group’s proposals, now open for public comment, include: 

1. Mandatory five-year electrical inspections by a registered electrician.
    
2. Issuing EICR reports to landlords and tenants at the start of each tenancy.

    

3. Encouraging visual checks before each new tenancy begins.

    

4. PAT testing for all landlord-supplied appliances under good practice.

    

5. The installation of RCDs in all rental properties.

    

6. Creation of a competent person register specifically for electricians working within the private rental sector.

    

7. Establishment of an Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) committee to recognise and oversee competent PRS testers.

    

8. A phased rollout — first for new tenancies, then existing ones — ensuring all landlords have time to comply. 

These recommendations would bring England’s private rental safety standards much closer to those in Scotland and Wales. 

Enforcing compliance 

While the proposed framework is positive, it’s only effective if enforced. The consultation document suggests penalties of up to £30,000 for landlords who fail to comply — aligning with the Fitness for Human Habitation and Liability for Housing Standards Bill. This approach empowers tenants to take legal action against landlords providing unsafe accommodation, reinforcing accountability across the sector. 

If you’re studying Law Lesson 6, you’ll explore how enforcement frameworks link to tenant protection and housing standards in practice. 

For professionals managing property portfolios or learning about tenant–landlord communication, our Communication Methods Lesson 6 outlines how to handle compliance notices and communicate inspection results clearly. 

What this means going forward 

Once adopted, these regulations will formalise what’s already considered best practice — helping prevent avoidable electrical incidents in p rivate homes. For electricians, this could create new opportunities for registered professionals qualified to carry out periodic inspections. 

At Elec Training, we continue to support the development of safe, competent electricians who understand the importance of compliance, communication, and electrical safety standards within both the private and social housing sectors. 

What is the government consultation on electrical safety in the private rental sector about? 

The government consultation on electrical safety in the private rental sector, launched in 2019 and leading to the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, sought views on implementing mandatory electrical safety standards for landlords in England. It focused on requiring landlords to ensure electrical installations are safe, including periodic inspections and testing by qualified professionals, providing tenants with Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs), and enforcing compliance to reduce fire and shock risks. The consultation, informed by the Private Rented Sector Electrical Safety Working Group, aimed to address gaps in existing laws, such as the lack of mandatory checks, and build on recommendations for five-yearly inspections. The response was published in January 2020, resulting in regulations effective from June 2020 for new tenancies and April 2021 for all private rentals. 

Why are new electrical safety regulations being considered for rented homes in England? 

New regulations were considered due to alarming statistics on electrical hazards in rented properties, where tenants face higher risks of fires and shocks—electrical faults cause over 20,000 fires annually in England, with renters disproportionately affected (e.g., 55 deaths in 2020/21 from electrical fires). The consultation highlighted the absence of mandatory standards, unlike gas safety, leading to unsafe installations and preventable accidents. Influenced by the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the Electrical Safety Standards Working Group, the regulations aim to protect vulnerable tenants, standardize safety, and hold landlords accountable, aligning with broader housing reforms like the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. They also respond to stakeholder calls for parity with Scotland and Wales, promoting a “renters’ reform bill” for decent homes. 

How do England’s current electrical safety requirements differ from Scotland and Wales? 

England’s requirements, under the 2020 Regulations, mandate private landlords to arrange EICRs at least every five years (or sooner if recommended), provide copies to tenants within 28 days and local authorities if requested, and complete remedial work within 28 days for C1/C2 codes. Scotland’s Repairing Standard (Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, updated 2019) requires EICRs every five years for private and social rentals, plus Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) for landlord-provided items, with local authorities enforcing via improvement notices and fines up to £5,000. Wales, under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (effective December 2022), mirrors England with five-yearly EICRs for private rentals, but extends to social housing and includes fitness for human habitation standards, with councils able to issue penalties up to £30,000. England’s rules focus on private rentals only, while Scotland and Wales cover social housing too. 

What is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and how often should it be done? 

An EICR is a formal inspection and testing report assessing the condition and safety of a property’s fixed electrical installations (e.g., wiring, sockets, consumer units) against BS 7671 standards, identifying defects via codes: C1 (immediate danger), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (improvement recommended), or FI (further investigation). It must be conducted by a qualified, competent person (e.g., NICEIC-registered electrician) and includes recommendations for remedial work. For landlords in England, it should be done at least every five years, or sooner if the previous report specifies, and provided to new tenants before occupation and to existing ones within 28 days of request. Scotland and Wales follow similar five-year cycles, with PAT annually for appliances. 

Who would be qualified to carry out mandatory electrical inspections under the proposals? 

Under the proposals and resulting 2020 Regulations, qualified persons are those “competent and qualified” per BS 7671, typically registered with government-approved schemes like NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA (Competent Person Schemes for self-certification). They must hold relevant qualifications (e.g., Level 3 NVQ in Electrotechnical Services, 18th Edition Wiring Regulations) and demonstrate experience via portfolio or assessment. The guidance specifies electricians who can produce a valid EICR, excluding unqualified “cowboys.” Local authorities enforce this, with fines for non-compliance. Elec Training prepares trainees for these standards through its NVQ and CPS-aligned courses. 

What are the eight key recommendations from the Electrical Safety Working Group? 

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Working Group (2018) made eight key recommendations to the government, which formed the basis of the 2020 Regulations: 

1. Mandatory Inspections: Landlords must arrange EICRs every five years by a qualified person.

    

2. Report Provision: Supply tenants with the EICR before new tenancies and on request for existing ones.

    

3. Remedial Actions: Complete urgent remedial work within 28 days and non-urgent within 56 days.

    

4. Local Authority Enforcement: Councils can issue remedial notices, improvement notices, or rent repayment orders.

    

5. Qualified Inspectors: Inspections by competent persons registered with approved schemes.

    

6. Model Clauses: Include electrical safety terms in tenancy agreements.

    

7. Awareness Campaigns: Government-led education for landlords and tenants on responsibilities.

    

8. Review Mechanism: Periodic review of regulations to ensure effectiveness. 

These were adopted in full, addressing gaps in prior voluntary guidance. 

How would landlords and tenants receive and use EICR reports? 

Landlords receive EICRs from the qualified inspector immediately after the test, keeping the original and providing a copy to tenants within 28 days (or before new tenancies start) and to local authorities within seven days if requested. Tenants use reports to verify safety, request remedial work, or report issues to councils if unsatisfied. If C1/C2 codes appear, landlords must act promptly, sharing updates with tenants. Digital copies via email are acceptable, but physical if preferred. Elec Training trains electricians to explain reports clearly to facilitate this process. 

What penalties could landlords face for failing to comply with new safety rules? 

Landlords face civil penalties up to £30,000 per offence for failing to comply (e.g., no EICR, delayed remedial work), issued by local housing authorities after warnings or remedial notices. Rent repayment orders (up to 12 months’ rent) apply for serious breaches, and criminal prosecution under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 can lead to unlimited fines or imprisonment in extreme cases. Non-compliance also voids insurance and risks bans from letting. In 2024, over 1,000 penalties were issued, averaging £5,000-£10,000. Elec Training stresses proactive compliance to avoid these. 

How will the proposed regulations benefit both tenants and landlords? 

The regulations benefit tenants by mandating safe electrical systems, reducing fire/shock risks (20,000+ fires/year), providing EICR transparency for informed decisions, and empowering complaints to councils for enforcement. Landlords gain clarity on obligations (five-year cycles), access to qualified inspectors for cost-effective compliance (£150-£300/EICR), protection from liability (e.g., insurance validity), and improved tenant satisfaction (90% retention with safe homes). Overall, they foster a fairer rental market, cutting accidents by 15-20%. Elec Training supports landlords through affordable EICR training for electricians. 

What opportunities could these new regulations create for qualified electricians? 

The regulations create opportunities by mandating five-yearly EICRs for 4.6 million private rentals (potentially 920,000 inspections/year), boosting demand for qualified pros (100,000 needed by 2032) and generating £138m+ annual revenue at £150/report. Remedial work adds £500m+ in jobs, with CPS-registered electricians gaining exclusive self-certification rights. Elec Training’s NVQ and EICR courses p osition electricians to capitalize on this growth