New Government draft regulations could see mandatory electrical safety checks required in social housing in England. These protections could benefit over 4 million households living in the social rented sector and create parity with the private rented sector.
Published today, the draft Social Housing Draft (Regulation) Bill, would pave the way to finally remove the inequality in the law that means private tenants are protected by mandatory five yearly electrical safety checks but social tenants are not.
In a major step towards equal electrical safety protection the draft regulations would establish electrical safety checks for social housing tenants by amending current legislation so that it also applied to ‘a registered provider of social housing’.
Following extensive campaigning by Electrical Safety First over the years the Government enacted new laws in 2020 that introduced five yearly electrical safety checks in the private rental sector, protecting millions of people from electrical hazards.
The charity has since called for the same protection to be afforded to those living in socially rented homes. Today’s announcement is a major step in the process towards changes to the law.
Commenting on todays draft publication of the regulations, Lesley Rudd Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First said: “Todays draft regulations are a real step in the right direction to ensuring that social housing tenants are better protected from electrical dangers and that the housing sector and landlords have clarity on safety standards. We look forward to working very closely with the Government and await the announcement of the consultation.”
The Government is yet to consult on electrical safety standards in the social rented sector and any secondary legislation would be subject to the outcome of the consultation, due to take place in the summer of this year.
Editors notes:
- Electrical Safety First is the UKs leading charity dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries caused by electricity in UK homes
The Government has now published its draft clauses for social housing with electrical safety standards in sub section 19: Social housing regulation: draft clauses - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)