Breaking Property News 27/05/25
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Why Electrical and Gas reports for rentals are a top priority
What being a compliant Landlord looks like
If you’re a landlord in the UK and you fail to have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for your rental property, the consequences can be serious—both legally and financially and of course can cause accidents or lead to the death of a tenant.
Legal Requirements – since 1 July 2020 (for new tenancies) and 1 April 2021 (for existing tenancies), landlords in England are legally required to: have a valid EICR carried out at least every 5 years. Provide a copy of the report to New tenants before they move in. Existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection; and the local authority within 7 days if requested.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Financial Penalties – Local authorities can impose fines of up to £30,000 per breach if the property does not have a valid EICR. Councils can serve enforcement notices requiring landlords to complete necessary remedial work within 28 days—or sooner if the issue is serious. If the landlord fails to comply, the council can arrange the work themselves and recover the costs from the landlord.
Increased Legal Liability – If a tenant or visitor is injured due to an electrical fault, and there’s no EICR to prove due diligence, you could face civil lawsuits or even criminal prosecution.
Eviction Limitations – Many Landlords are unaware that in some cases, failure to comply with electrical safety regulations could affect your ability to serve a Section 21 notice to evict tenants.
Invalid Insurance – Landlord insurance policies require proof of regular safety checks. An invalid or missing EICR may void your insurance coverage.
Human consequence – faulty electrics cause accidents, fires and can result in fatalities. So not having an up-to-date EICR as a UK landlord can expose you to heavy fines, enforcement action, insurance issues, and legal risk. As well as gambling with the welfare of the tenants who live in the rental. Staying compliant is not just a legal obligation—it’s also a key part of protecting your investment and your tenants.
In contrast if you are a Landlord you must ensure your rental property has a valid Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) every year by law. There is a legal Requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Where landlords are legally obligated to ensure gas appliances, fittings, and flues are safe and checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. And they must provide tenants with a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate to new tenants: before they move in, or give a copy to existing tenants: within 28 days of the gas check.
What’s in a Gas Check?
The annual gas safety inspection typically covers, boilers, gas cookers and hobs, gas fires, pipework, ventilation, flues and chimneys.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Fines and Prosecution, a Landlord could face unlimited fines and even imprisonment for serious breaches. It can invalidate insurance, and you cannot serve a Section 21 eviction notice if a valid certificate hasn’t been provided to the tenant. Overriding all of this it puts tenants at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, or explosions—with potentially fatal consequences.
How Landlords can automate compliance and maintain their property asset
Knowing that you have to stay compliant is one thing – ensuring that you have an effective solution is another. That is why Symple offers core property compliance and maintenance services, all of which can be booked online in under a minute. Their core mission is to safeguard the Landlord and the tenant and keep the rental property in a good sate of repair.
The services they offer include:
- Gas Safety Certificates
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
- Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs)
- Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) – Recommended annually to check the safety of portable electrical appliances.
- Boiler Servicing – An annual service helps maintain boiler performance and prolong lifespan.
- Non-Emergency Callouts – For gas, electrical, or plumbing issues, with engineers typically attending within 48 hours.
Symple ensures transparent, fixed pricing with no hidden charges, making compliance simple and predictable for landlords of all sizes.
Full Automation and Effortless Management
Symple goes beyond service booking by automating key elements of the compliance process, saving landlords valuable time and reducing the risk of lapses. Features include:
- Automated Reminders – Stay ahead of deadlines with alerts when certificates are due for renewal.
- One-Click Ordering – Instantly book inspections and services through an intuitive platform.
- Tenant Coordination – Symple handles direct communication with tenants to schedule inspections.
- Centralised Certificate Storage – All compliance documents are securely stored and accessible in one place.
- Multi-Property Management – Manage multiple properties from a single dashboard, ideal for portfolio landlords.
What’s more, Symple guarantees timely delivery: if a certificate isn’t delivered on time, the service is free.
Trusted Nationwide Coverage
Symple’s network includes over 2,000 vetted service providers operating across the UK. This ensures landlords receive consistent, high-quality service—no matter the property’s location. It offers landlords a modern, technology-driven way to stay on top of property compliance with minimal hassle. With instant booking, automated reminders, nationwide service coverage, and no subscription fees, it’s a reliable partner for landlords looking to simplify the complexities of legal property management.
Andrew Stanton Executive Editor – moving property and proptech forward. PropTech-X
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