Certificate for Renting a Property Out

[liam b]

Ive just had a landlord on the phone whos buying a house to rent out and wants some work doing first, he wants an electrical cert so hes covered, will a board change and EIC cert do for landlords or does it have to be a PIR?

cheers

 

[Deleted member 9648]

He will need a satisfactory PIR before renting out and a new one at each change of tennant.....but he will need an EIC for any installation work carried out.

 

[Jimmy Boy]

He will need a satisfactory PIR before renting out and a new one at each change of tennant.....but he will need an EIC for any installation work carried out.

Wirepuller..If you know which legislation to which this statement applies and you can point me to it, I would be grateful as my employer doesn't believe such a statutory instrument exists !

Unless it is like PAT legislation which doesn't exist but by doing so complies with The Electricity at Work Regulations and Health and Safety at work act ?

ATB Steve

 

[Jonesy83]

its not illegal to rent a property out without a pir but his insurance may not cover him also if the place burns down due to an electrical fualt or someone gets a belt then he could be done for it i think its just gas he needs to have a cert for by law

 

[Fordango]

The requirement comes from the IEE's 'Guidance Note 3, Inspection and testing'. This is the document that supports the IEE Regulations (BS 7671:2008 Requirements for electrical installations) for periodic inspection and testing. If there were a fire or injury then the HSE would use the lack of compliance to this recognised standard in evidence against the owner / person responsible. They'd basically be guilty unless they could prove in court that you were doing somethign equally as good as the IEE Regulations.

Guidance Note 3 suggests that the maximum period between 'inspection and testing' for a domestic property is 10 years or at change of occupancy. There is no suggestion of the 'routine checks' as it would be likely that the occupier would notice anything broken, smelling etc and report it / get it fixed themselves.
For residential accommodation, which I take to be student flats etc then it would be five years for periodic ispection and testing with an interim routine check annually or at change of occupancy.

Paul

 

[BlueToBits]

AFAIK BS7671 is mandatory, not statutory. There is no legal requirement that states a landlord MUST have the installation inspected. However, a landlord may find himself being sued by a tenant in a civil court for injuries due to failure of the electrical installation if it was proved he did not comply with his obligation to maintain the electrical installation in a safe condition. He could however demonstrate due care if he could produce a valid and satisfactory PIR with EICs for installation work. Many letting agencies insist their landlords hold a satisfactory PIR as they may also be liable. In any event, Installation work in a residential property not notified under part P is a statutary offence and can attract a fine of up to £5000 + £50 for each day the new installation remains un-notified.
I am fairly sure this is the case, but I'm well prepared to be correct on this.

 

[Baal]

There is no legal requirement that states a landlord MUST have the installation inspected. However, a landlord may find himself being sued by a tenant in a civil court for injuries due to failure of the electrical installation if it was proved he did not comply with his obligation to maintain the electrical installation in a safe condition. He could however demonstrate due care if he could produce a valid and satisfactory PIR with EICs for installation work.

There is the answer, it's all about 'duty of care' and not a specific piece of legislation. It's also worth keeping in mind that many commercial letting insurance policies will include a clause on maintaining services ie gas, electric etc and perhaps this could become a get-out clause in the event of a claim?

 

[Des 56]

I wonder if any landlord anywhere in the country has ever asked a question on a forum with the tenants safety as their primary aim
I doubt it very much

Isn't it a sad state of affairs when the duty of care can be demonstrated by having a satisfactory pir

We all know that competent sparks are virtually exiled from inspection and testing, because of the drive by pirs that are at the cornerstone of these landlords pieces of paper

The country seems to revolve around how blame can be shifted, and the object being, to pass the buck for the least cost, irrespective of whether the pir is toilet paper or not

 

[BlueToBits]

The country seems to revolve around how blame can be shifted, and the object being, to pass the buck for the least cost, irrespective of whether the pir is toilet paper or not

It would seem so, Des. Sadly, I think it has got past the passing the buck stage. Too many people are now manufacturing their own bucks and throwing them to exploit the weakness and mistakes of others.