Use an electrician who is registered with a government-approved scheme such as Napit or ElecsaThey have been in the pipeline for more than a decade, but electrical safety checks for rented homes are still beset by confusion now that they are law. For all new tenancies in England from this week (and for existing ones from next April) landlords must have a report that confirms that their property’s wiring, switches and sockets are safe — or face a fine of up to £30,000. The dates were announced in January, but then coronavirus hit. “There’s almost certainly a large proportion of people who still don’t know,” says Chris Norris, the policy director for the National Residential Landlords Association. “The government’s communication over this has been overwhelmed by the [Covid-19] crisis.”Here is what landlords and tenants need to know.

Source: The Times July 02, 2020 23:26 UTC