What is an EICR for landlords In Glasgow?

 An EICR is a thorough inspection and testing of the electrical installation in a property, including the wiring, electrical fittings, and consumer unit (fuse box). The testing is carried out by a qualified electrician who will check the installation against the current version of the UK's Wiring Regulations (BS 7671).

The testing procedure for an EICR involves the following:

1. Visual inspection: The electrician will conduct a visual inspection of the electrical installation, looking for any obvious defects or signs of damage, such as cracked or damaged sockets, frayed wiring, or exposed cables.

2. Dead testing: The electrician will then conduct a series of tests on the electrical installation with the power turned off. This includes checking the continuity of the earth wiring and testing the insulation resistance of the wiring.

3. Live testing: Once the dead testing is complete, the electrician will turn the power back on and carry out a series of tests on the live electrical installation. This includes checking the polarity and earth loop impedance of the wiring, as well as testing the operation of residual current devices (RCDs) and circuit breakers.

4. Functional testing: The electrician will also test the functionality of all electrical fixtures and fittings, such as switches, sockets, lights, and appliances. This ensures that all electrical components are working correctly and safely.

5. Report: Once the testing is complete, the electrician will provide a detailed report that highlights any defects, damage, or safety concerns identified during the inspection. The report will also include recommendations for remedial work that may be required to bring the installation up to current safety standards.

In summary, electrical testing for an EICR involves a thorough inspection and testing of the electrical installation in a property, including a visual inspection, dead testing, live testing, functional testing, and a detailed report highlighting any defects or safety concerns. This testing ensures that the electrical installation is safe and meets current regulations, providing peace of mind for homeowners and tenants.

In the UK, there are several electrical tests that need to be carried out in a home to ensure that the electrical installation is safe and meets current safety standards. These tests include:

1. Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR): This is a comprehensive inspection and testing of the electrical installation in a property, including the wiring, electrical fittings, and consumer unit (fuse box). It is recommended that an EICR is carried out at least every 10 years for owner-occupied homes and every 5 years for rented properties.

2. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT): This is a test of portable electrical appliances in a property, such as laptops, TVs, and kitchen appliances. It is recommended that PAT testing is carried out annually in rented properties and as required in owner-occupied homes.

3. RCD Testing: Residual Current Devices (RCDs) are safety devices that protect against electric shock. It is recommended that RCDs are tested every 3 months in rented properties and annually in owner-occupied homes.

4. Smoke Detector Testing: Smoke detectors are essential safety devices that can save lives in the event of a fire. It is recommended that smoke detectors are tested monthly and replaced every 10 years.

5. Carbon Monoxide Detector Testing: Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that can be produced by faulty gas appliances. It is recommended that CO detectors are tested monthly and replaced every 5-7 years.

It is important to note that these are minimum recommendations, and some situations may require more frequent testing or additional tests. It is also important to have all electrical work carried out by a qualified electrician and to keep all electrical certificates and test reports up to date.

Landlord Rights 2021

Landlords' rights and responsibilities

This page provides an overview of the rights and responsibilities of being a landlord if you rent out property in Scotland.

COVID-19

The Scottish Government has published advice for landlords and letting agents.

Landlord Certificates Glasgow registration

If you are thinking of letting your home, it is vital that you are aware of your legal rights and obligations. One of the first things you will need to do is register as a landlord in Glasgow with every local authority area that you let a house out in. You can find out more about landlord registration here.

When a property is advertised, landlords have to include their registration number in all adverts.

The Right to Rent

From 1 February 2015 landlords who have rental properties in England and Wales have to check that tenants or lodgers can legally rent their property. 

These regulations only apply to properties in England and Wales, and do not apply to tenants or lodgers who rent property in Scotland.

Private residential tenancy

On 1 December 2017 a new type of tenancy came into force, called the private residential tenancy, it replaced assured and short assured tenancy agreements for all new tenancies.

If you were already renting out your property with an assured or short assured tenancy, on 1 December 2017, the tenancy will continue as normal until you or the tenant bring it to an end following the correct procedure. If you then offer the tenant a new tenancy this will be a private residential tenancy.

Repairs and maintenance

Landlords are generally responsible for the maintenance and major repairs to a property. This includes repairs to the structure and exterior of the property, heating and hot water installations, basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary installations. You need to be aware of how you should arrange access to the property - see Living in your accommodation for tenants' rights when landlords need access. You need to provide reasonable notice, at least 24 hours and get their permission.

Landlords have a duty to ensure that the houses they rent to tenants meet the repairing standard. If your property doesn't meet the repairing standard, The Housing and Property Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal can order you to carry out the necessary work. If you don't, you could face a financial penalty. 

You must keep a record of any gas safety checks and, usually, you must issue it to the occupier within 28 days of each annual check. Gas appliances must carry safety certificates from qualified engineers who are on the Gas Safe Register. For more information on your responsibilities as a landlord the 

By law, you must ensure that the electrical system and any electrical appliances supplied with the let, This is referred to as PAT Testing, such as cookers, kettles, toasters, washing machines and immersion heaters, are safe to use. If you are supplying new appliances, you should also provide any accompanying instruction booklets.You should also have a completed EICR Certificate if you are a landlord in Glasgow For more information on your responsibilities as a landlord, visit the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) website.

There are rules about smoke and heat alarms in privately rented properties, they need to be mains powered and interlinked. You'll need to make sure you have sufficient smoke and heat alarms. Check the Scottish Government guidance on fire safety. If you supply furniture or furnishings with the let, you must ensure that they meet the fire resistance requirements, sometimes known as the 'match test' in the Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations 1988. There should be a symbol on your furniture to state that it is fire resistant, you can find out more and see examples of the labels here.

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House in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

If you are planning to let your property out to three or more unrelated tenants, you must have a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence. If you are not sure whether you need a licence for your property, you should contact your local authority for advice.

There are three main areas looked into when a property owner applies for an HMO licence: the suitability of an owner to be an HMO landlord, the management of the premises, and the physical condition and facilities of the accommodation. These things must be checked before a licence is granted.

The owner of a property must make the application for an HMO licence, even if the property is to be leased to or managed by another person or organisation. If someone other than you carries out the day-to-day management of the property (for example, a letting agent), they will be named on the licence as a joint licence holder.

Section 11 notices

If a landlord wants to evict a tenant via court then the landlord must tell the tenant's local council that they're planning on taking this course of action, this is called a section 11 notice.

The main function of a section 11 notice is to let the council know that an individual, or household, is at risk of becoming homeless. Once councils know about the court action they can try to intervene to see if the eviction can be halted, through mediation or other means. The notice also gives the council time to discuss alternative housing options with the tenant.

The section 11 duty does not interfere with the day-to-day management of a private rented properties. The normal process when a tenant leaves a property at the end date (sometimes called the ish date) of a tenancy is not complicated by the section 11 requirement. It is only when a landlord thinks that the only way that they are going to get the property back is via court action that these regulations have to be followed.

Energy performance certificates

If you're letting out a property to tenants, you must be able to produce a valid energy performance certificate free of charge to anyone interested in renting the property.

You also need to know the EPC rating of the property and include this rating in any advertising.

if you don't provide a Energy Performance Certificate or you fail to include the EPC rating in any advert for the property, then you may be liable to a fine of up to £1000.

A full list of organisations which can provide energy performance certificates is available from the Scottish Government.

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