Landlords in Northern Ireland face new fines if they do not comply with new rules to ensure their properties are electrically safe, a charity is warning.
Landlords have been warned they are at risk of huge fines as new safety laws to protect thousands of private renters loom. Landlords in Northern Ireland face new fines if they do not comply with new rules to ensure their properties are electrically safe, a charity is warning.
New laws, introduced from 1 April, will see better protections for people living in the private rental sector, mandating safety checks on the electrical installation of a property, such as the socket outlets, consumer unit and wiring, by a competent and qualified person at least once every five years.
Following the inspection, a report will be issued to the landlord. If remedial work is required to ensure the property is safe, a landlord will have 28 days to ensure this is carried out.
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Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First , said: “Whilst we know good landlords already do all they can to ensure their tenants and properties are safe, these new laws will require all properties within the private rented sector to have their electrical systems checked, and to ensure faults are rectified.
“Tenants and landlords can rest assured their home is safe from the hazards electrical faults can pose. Every tenant deserves to live in a safe home, and we are confident these new laws introduced by the Northern Ireland Executive will help in ensuring that is the case for thousands of renters.”
Under the news laws introduced in Northern Ireland all new private tenancies starting on or after 1 April 2025 will need to show evidence they have complied with the rules. All new tenancies starting in private rented properties from 1 April onwards must have a certified electrical safety inspection of the hardwired electrical installation by this date.
Existing tenancies granted before 1 April 2025 have until 1 December 2025 to comply. Landlords are being warned failure to carry out their duties under the new regulations could result in fines and, in some cases, court proceedings.
A landlord who fails to comply with any of their duties under the regulations will be committing an offence.