From 1st December 2015, private landlords in Scotland must ensure that an electrical safety inspection of their property is carried out by a registered electrician, at least every 5 years. The changes are as a result of amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014, making it a requirement for landlords to comply with new legislation.
When does this take effect?
Landlords will be required to provide electrical safety certificates to tenants who sign leases on / after 1 December 2015 and to all other tenants by December 2016.
What needs to be tested?
Electrical safety inspections have two parts:
- An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). This details the safety of the electrical installations, fixtures and fittings
- A Portable Appliance Test (PAT) on any portable appliances belonging to the landlord and included in the tenancy e.g. fridges, toasters, washing machines etc.
Any electrical fixture or appliance which fails to pass inspection must be replaced or repaired immediately.
Landlords should:
- Provide a copy of the most recent electrical safety inspection to both the new and retained tenants
- Ensure that the person who conducts the checks is employed by a firm that is a member of an accredited registration scheme operated by a body recognised by the Scottish Government. They will normally be registered with NICEIC or a firm which is a member of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland (SELECT)
For more information on the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014
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