Renting out a house, agent wants us to move all plug sockets

Comedy

Hi all, Anyone with experience on this? My GF has lived in her house for about 4 years but has just moved in with me, she is going to rent her place out for a while rather than sell up (hopefully she sells in a year or so).

The agent she's used has commissioned an electrical safety report on her behalf and it has turned up a few things but mainly that the plug sockets are too close to the floor and need to be relocated.

I've rented places out before so have experience in renting old houses and have never had this as an issue (these sockets are no different to ones I have had before). The agent says though that this electrical certificate is to meet regs that come in to effect on July 2021.

My questions then, just to get opinion..

Are there any requirements for existing properties to have the sockets 500mm from the floor when renting out?
Are we able to say to the agent that we believe the sockets are safe as they are and to continue from there?
Is there any requirement for this electrical certificate to exist as of today?

theartfullodger

Ask agent which law & section requires this. Fire agent.

Get three other agents round to comment.

chanz4

Regs change all the time, if you don't comply choice is rent or don't rent

iammumtoone

chanz4 wrote: »

Regs change all the time, if you don't comply choice is rent or don't rent

From the amount of posts I read on here about issues people have with Landlords not doing essential repairs/maintenance I think if the only issue is few plugs at the wrong height plenty would love to live in the OPs house.

mrschaucer

Tell agent it's currently January 2020 not July 2021?

Owain_Moneysaver

How close to the floor are they?

If they're in the skirting board so they could be bashed (especially if surface mounted) or the flex is bent as it leaves the plug, then there's a safety implication.

If not, height from floor is only covered for new builds for accessibility reasons.

Lilythecat

I believe that although they don’t meet current building regs you can still rent it out. The building regs are for new builds

AdrianC

The agent is confusing BR with EICR

phill99

Letting Agents: The only 'profession' that has no barriers to entry, requires no knowledge to practice and are morally bankrupt.


There is no requirement at the moment that rental properties have to have an electrical safety certificate.
Regulations are not retrospective. So what is current for the height of sockets does not have to be applied to existing stock.
Most agents are on kick backs from the tradesmen that get work through them. So your agent is trying to generate some under-handed commission from the electrician.
You need to change agents. If this is how your relationship is starting of, just imagine what it will be like in 12 months time.

knightstyle

https://professional-electrician.com/technical/heights-electrical-equipment-dwellings/

G_M

the MHCLG has laid draft regulations for electrical safety standards (note draft).



The Building Regs have changed, and yes, new installations need to be at a specified height.

But that is not the issue. The reference to July 2021 is premature. The regulations, specific to rental properties (as opposed to Building Regs) have not yet been agreed or defined. Yes, from July) a 5 yearly electrical report will be required (as with annual gas), but there's nothing to stop you letting the property out now as it is. In (or just before) July, consider the position again.

This test must be conducted before a tenancy commences or before 1 April 2021 if the tenancy is already in place.

So if the tenancy predates July, when the regs come into force) you have till April 2021

https://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2020/01/14/new-electricity-regulations-landlords-1-july-2020/