AMDEA welcomes new electrical laws to improve tenant safety

The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) has publicly welcomed new regulations which work to improve safety in all residential properties, particularly in the private rented sector.

Under the new laws, private landlords must test the electrics in properties let on a new tenancy using a person who is ‘qualified and competent,’ at least every 5 years.

All new rentals on or after 1st July must provide an electrical safety report to their tenant and the local authority, which must be repeated every 5 years. From 1 April 2021 this will apply to all existing privately rented properties.

Although the Regulations don’t cover domestic appliances, the Government recommend that, as good practice, landlords regularly carry out portable appliance testing (PAT) on any electrical appliance that they provide and then supply tenants with a record of inspections.

They also advise landlord and tenants to register appliances, something the appliance industry warmly welcomes and has spent half this decade advocating as an essential home safety measure.

Paul Hide, Chief Executive, AMDEA said: ‘We are glad to see home safety is at the forefront of Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government policy. We developed Register my Appliance to help keep homes safe and particularly support the Government’s ambition to ensure landlords are doing their upmost to protect their tenants.

This year, the appliance industry hopes that landlords across England take the sensible safety measure of registering their tenant’s appliances at registermyappliance.org.uk.’