Landlord Electrical Safety Legislation Guide

Explore how to keep on top of electrical safety legislation for landlords. Join us as we break down the key regulations, specifically, Part P of the Building Regulations Act and The Electrical Safety Standards.

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Being a landlord can be financially rewarding. However, there are specific standards a building or home needs to meet before a tenancy can commence. To make a rental unit habitable, landlords must conduct required inspections and ensure that everything complies with the regulations.

Mostly, these centre around electrical, fire, and gas safety. Here, we’ll explore the electrical regulations and requirements landlords must meet. We’ll also offer practical tips to ensure rental units are as risk-free as possible from electrical damage.

Key legal requirements for landlords

As a landlord, you must ensure that all national electrical safety standards are met. There are two essential sets of requirements you must be aware of:

Part P of The Building Regulations
The Electrical Safety Standards

Part P of the Building Regulations Act

The first legislation you need to be aware of is Part P of the Building Regulations Act of 2005. Read the government documentation or carry on for our summary.

The main rules you will need to adhere to are:

That a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) has a periodic inspection carried out on the property every five years. In case your property is not registered as a HMO, many specialists still recommend carrying out an inspection.
An electrical safety check must be commissioned prior to the commencement of a tenancy, and must be carried out by a competent person (a Part P qualified electrician in kitchens and bathrooms) to ensure that the electricity supply is legal.
Fitted kitchen appliances, such as a stove, require a PAT test (portable application test).

The risk of non-compliance

As a landlord, you have not only a moral obligation to keep your tenants safe, but there are legal repercussions as well. Failing to adhere to certain standards could result in;

A £5,000 fine
Six months imprisonment
Potential criminal charges in the event of injury or death
Invalidated property insurance

The Electrical Safety Standards (for the Rental Sector)

First released in 2020 and updated in 2025, the UK’s Electrical Safety Standards are legal requirements which aim to reduce the risk of electrical fires and other damage. The original standards set out the legal requirements for the electrical setup and safety of landlords’ dwellings. Amendments have been made to ensure even greater safety for tenants, including changes to requirements for:

– RCD (Residual Current Device) Protection for socket outlets
– AFDD (Arc Fault Detection Devices)
– Surge Protection Devices (SPDS)
– Electronic Vehicle (EV) Charging
– Energy Efficiency

Check out the government documentation or continue to read our simplified version.

Simplifying the Electrical Safety Standards

As a landlord, you must ensure that all national standards for electrical safety are met. Fortunately, you can get a professional to do this for you, as per our EICR Wirral and EICR Liverpool services.

Regardless of whether you own one property or ten properties, under the Landlords Electrical Safety Legislation, you are responsible for organising and ensuring that electrical installation inspections are conducted every five years.

In addition, you must comply with the following rules and regulations;

You must ensure that electrical installations in rented properties are inspected and tested by an authorised and qualified individual, or company, every five years
You must obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report from the professional carrying out the inspection and tests
You must provide an Electrical Installation Condition Report to the existing tenant of the property within 28 working days of the inspection being carried out
You must provide a copy of the Electrical Installation Condition Report to your local authority
If the Electrical Installation Condition Report outlines that any problems need to be remedied, you are required to ensure that any work is be completed within 28 days
You must provide written confirmation of completed work to both the tenant and local authority
You must store a copy of the Electrical Installation Condition Report and written confirmation of any completed work
Should a new tenant occupy the premises, you are obliged to provide them with a copy of the Electrical Installation Condition Report

As highlighted above, failure to comply with the electrical health and safety legislation could see you fined up to £30,000.

Summary of changes to the Electrical Safety Standards

Requirement	2020 (Original)	2025 (Current)
AFDDs	Recommended only	Mandatory for high-risk residential buildings, HMOs, student accommodation, care homes
RCD Protection	30mA for sockets up to 32A	Same, but stricter type requirements (Type A/B for DC fault currents)
Protective Devices	Standard unidirectional only	New bi-directional devices required for renewable energy systems
Energy Storage/Solar PV	Limited guidance	Specific regulations for battery storage and solar PV installations
Energy Efficiency	Recommendations only	Expanded chapter with prosumer requirements
Surge Protection	Exceptions for dwellings	More stringent requirements

Peninsula Electrical can help. Check out EICR Wirral and EICR Liverpool services.

Below, we’ll provide landlords with key tips for ensuring electrical safety and answer some of the most common questions. If you have any further questions, please get in touch on 0151 668 0794 or email us at info@peninsulaelectrical.com.

Common questions on electrical safety regulations for landlords

Here, we’ll explore some of the most common questions both new and existing landlords ask us.

What Will Need to Be Inspected?

Throughout the electrical installation inspection, the following will need to be reviewed and tested;

Fixed electrical parts within the property such as plug sockets
Light fittings throughout the property
The fuse box, or consumer unit as it is otherwise known
Electrical wiring within the property
Appliances that are permanently fitted such as showers

In addition to the above, the inspection must determine that electrical installations meet the criteria that is set out in the most recent edition of the Wiring Regulations.

As a landlord, you must ensure that the individual or team hired to fulfil your inspections are qualified and competent in the recent edition of the Wiring Regulations.

What Do the Electrical Safety Standards NOT Cover?

Although it is imperative to ensure your property is safe for your tenants, the Government has stated that the Electrical Safety Standards do not cover electrical appliances such as ovens and fridges.

Instead, they have recommended that landlords conduct frequent appliance tests on any appliances supplied to tenants throughout the property.

It should also be noted that landlords are not required to test any electrical appliances installed by tenants in the property.

Who Can Carry Out the Required Inspections?

The Government has stated that electrical installation inspections must be carried out by a qualified individual or company.

As stated above, the selected individual should also be competent in the recent edition of the Wiring Regulations.

What Information Must Be Communicated Within the Inspection Reports?

When it is time for your electrical installations to be inspected, the professional that you hire to complete the inspection will provide you with a detailed Electrical Installation Condition Report.

This report will typically outline the condition of your current electrical system and appliances. Should any problems with your electrical system be uncovered, the Electrical Installation Condition Report will determine how they can be resolved.

Should you choose to take advantage of the services that our team at Peninsula Electrical can provide you with, we will provide you with a no-obligation cost estimation for any repair work required.

As outlined within the landlord electrical safety legislation, you are obliged to ensure that any required work is completed within 28 days of the Electrical Installation Condition Report being provided to you. With this in mind, we can also provide you with a no-obligation estimate to determine how long it would take us to complete any necessary repairs.

Contact us today

If you have read our 2020 Landlord Electrical Safety Legislation Guide and now find yourself looking for a credible, qualified and professional team to conduct your electrical installation inspections, look no further.

At Peninsula Electrical, we are affiliates of the National Association for Professional Inspectors and Testers. We pride ourselves on conducting thorough and comprehensive tests to ensure that properties remain safe for occupants.

If you require our services to ensure that you abide by the landlord electrical safety legislation, do not hesitate to contact us today.

Please email us at info@peninsulaelectrical.com or call 0151 668 0794.

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