Landlords are now required to have electrical safety checks carried out on their properties. If you work in the rental sector, this could be the scheme for you.
Since July 2020, private-sector landlords in England have been legally required to have electrical safety checks carried out for new specified tenancies. Since April 2021, this has also been required for all existing specified tenancies.
Since 1st December 2022, social and private-sector landlords in Wales have been required to have safety checks carried out on their properties.
Landlords can either use a Certified Business that is listed on the Competent Person Register or find a competent person using the checklist in the government’s guidance for their safety checks.
With government encouraging landlords to use certified Business there are significant opportunities for electrical contractors working in this sector. Certification with the NICEIC Rented Sector Scheme allows your business to be listed on the Competent Person (Electrical) website, making your business visible to landlords or their agents when they’re searching for approved electrical contractors.
Scheme requirements
Pre-requisites
To join the NICEIC Rented Sector Scheme, you need to hold Certification on either the NICEIC Domestic Installer scheme or a NICEIC Approved Contractor scheme.
Please note if you hold registration for the Domestic Installer scheme only, you will require a craft qualification in addition to the 18th edition BS 7671 qualification and periodic Inspection and testing qualification(s). As well as having a separate assessment for Periodic Inspection and Testing.
Other requirements
- Agree for your business details to be listed on the Registered Competent Person (Electrical) website to undertake electrical safety checks.
- Agree to use the Electrical Safety First Best Practice Guide No. 4 (current issue) Electrical Installation Condition Reporting: Classification Codes for domestic and similar electrical installations
- Confirm that your business holds at least £250,000 Professional Indemnity Insurance covering Electrical Installation Condition Reporting
- Confirm the operatives undertaking Electrical Inspections are competent to do so (please refer to the Acceptable Qualifications in key documents)
- Please note that if you are a Domestic installer, additional assessment will be needed if RS is required
