Landlords may face electric safety checks

LANDLORDS could be required to conduct mandatory safety checks on electrics in their properties every five years or face fines of up to £30,000, the Government has announced.

Official estimates suggest that the average cost of conducting such a check will be approximately £160 per property.

Ministers hope the safety measures will reduce the risk of electric shocks and fires caused by shoddy wiring and ageing, out-of-date white goods. The proposals, which are out to consultation, would apply to all private rented properties and also include providing safety certificates to tenants to prove appropriate checks have been carried out.

Final plans will be brought forward later this year after the conclusion of an independent review of building regulations and fire safety, commissioned following the Grenfell Tower fire.

Ministers moved to address the issue of electrical safety by introducing new legal powers in 2016.