Commercial landlord responsibility for electrical safety

Ensuring electrical safety in commercial buildings is crucial. Understanding a commercial landlord’s responsibility for electrical safety is key to mitigating risks and protecting your investment.

This guide will explain a commercial landlord’s responsibility for electrical safety. We’ll dive into the specific rules and regulations landlords need to follow to keep tenants and occupants safe in their commercial properties.

We’ll also provide detailed information regarding Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) for commercial properties. This information should help commercial landlords take action to make sure their properties are electrically safe, reduce risks, and protect investments.

Key legislation for electrical safety

The Landlord and Tenants Act 1985 outlines a commercial landlord’s responsibility for electrical safety.  The act states the landlord must ensure a property’s electrical system is safe when the tenancy begins and then remains in a safe condition for the entire duration of the tenancy.

This legal requirement aims to safeguard tenants from the risks associated with faulty electrical systems, such as electric shocks and fires. It also emphasises the importance of proactive electrical maintenance in commercial properties to prevent accidents and ensure the well-being of occupants.

The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 and the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 go further and highlight a landlord’s duty of care also covers visitors to the property. In a commercial property, a commercial landlord’s responsibility for electrical safety, therefore, covers people such as customers in the shop or the workers in the office. 

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Act 1989 also require electrical equipment within commercial properties to be maintained and kept safe. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in serious consequences, including fines, legal action, and even imprisonment.

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented sector (England) regulations 2020 states that landlords must have the property electrics checked every 5 years by a qualified electrician. The landlord must pass proof of this on to the tenant. However, this doesn’t apply to commercial rental properties. Landlords can pass certain obligations to tenants depending on the lease agreement.

What are the EICR landlord requirements for a commercial property?

There is no law requiring a commercial landlord to obtain an EICR. However, we highly recommend commercial landlords get one and renew it every 3-5 years. This will count as a landlord electrical safety certificate.

The above regulations covering commercial landlord responsibility for electrical safety do not require an EICR. But a landlord electrical safety certificate will provide evidence and prove the electrical installations in the commercial property are being kept safe.

Commercial landlord responsibility for electrical safety

As highlighted in the key legislations, commercial landlord’s must ensure a property’s electrical system is safe. Therefore, the commercial landlord is responsible for any necessary repairs needed to maintain electrical safety.

The cost of the repairs depends on several factors. A professional electrician must also carry out any work recommended. Electricians will charge £55 per hour or £400 per day on average.

Even if you have the correct landlord electrical safety certificates and understand a commercial landlord’s responsibility for electrical safety, things can still go wrong. Therefore, it is important to further protect your items and investment with landlord insurance. To compare landlord insurance quotes, contact us at 01788 818 670 today to find out more, or get a quote online.