Landlord Letting Questions

Please feel free to browse the list below of Frequently Asked Landlord Questions. If you don't find the answer you require simply get in touch and we will be happy to help you.

What are the Legal requirements with regard to electrical testing?

Electrical testing.

This is Not a legal requiremet unless the property is an HMO.
Duty of care of ALL landlords requires a property to be let in a 'safe' condition.
THE ONLY FORMERLY RECOGNISED WAY of achieving this is via a periodic inspection report!

An electrical 'safety certificate' does not exist. A certificate is issued only on new works! (part P coming up). Existing installations are 'reported' upon as to their condition as fitness for inservice use. The recommended MAXIMUM interval between periodic inspections in respect of rented property is 5 years OR change of ownership/use. This does not necessarily mean the installation is safe for 5 years because you are in possession of a piece of paper.

New works, additions or alterations to an electrical system may well come under part P of the building regulations. If you are unsure if the work comes under part P or not, always use a contractor registered with one of the approved schemes.

Just4Let would advise having a PIR done and repeated on the recommended intervals advised on the report. Change of tenants would provoke a visual inspection report, mainly to assess any changes or damage, (this is what they are for) and PAT testing annually. PAT testing DOES include fixed equipment, like cookers and storage heaters, that DO NOT have a plug. A suitably experienced tester can perform these tests for you.

If you require more information, visit the niceic's website, or the electrical safety councils website.


Our periodic inspections start from £100.00.

They take around 2 hours with very expensive test equipment which must be calibrated, by a highly qualified and experienced and competent person with knowledge of the installation under report, and then they all need to be written up.

• Electrical Safety - It is your duty to ensure that the electricity supply of any property you submit for rental is safe. Although this is not yet compulsory, we advise that any property especially those leaving electrical appliances should be tested and passed before any tenancy commences and again Just for Let can arrange this for you.

Just4Let maintains an up to date list of approved contractors who specialise in these areas and we suggest you use one of these. You can however locate your own tradesmen but you must ensure that they have been approved by their regulatory body, and are authorised to carry out works in the areas that they claim.

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