Breaking Property News 27/05/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.

 

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

Andrew Stanton

CEO & Founder Proptech-PR. Proptech Real Estate Influencer, Executive Editor of Estate Agent Networking. Leading PR consultancy in Proptech & Real Estate.

You May Also Enjoy

Home and Living

Best Budget Smartphones Under $200

In the rapidly advancing digital era, it’s no longer a luxury but a necessity to have a smartphone. Not everyone however needs or is able to pay hundreds of dollars for an expensive device. The good news is that there are numerous budget smartphones under $200 that provide great performance, decent cameras, and a long…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Ten years on: More first-time buyers moving to cities while the coast stands still

New ten-year analysis of the property market shows that more first-time buyers are looking to move to cities, while the coast has seen no growth in new buyers First-time buyer demand to move to Great Britain’s 50 largest cities (excluding London) is up by 16% on average over the last ten years, with Dundee topping…
Read More
Breaking News

Homeowners in England and Wales overvalue their properties by an average of 16%

Homeowners in England and Wales are overestimating the value of their property by an average of 16%, according to new figures. Data from Quick Move Now compares homeowner estimates with formal estate agent valuations and is broken down by both region and property type. Overall, homeowners overvalue in every single category.   Regional breakdown Region…
Read More
Visual blemishes on Roads due to service upgrades
Estate Agent Talk

Emergency Sidewalk Repairs: When to Act and Who to Call

Sidewalks are the unsung heroes of city infrastructure—quietly assisting tens of millions of footsteps every day. But when they crack, disintegrate, or shift all of sudden, they might quickly turn out to be volatile liabilities. In a town like New York, in which pedestrian site visitors are constant and belongings proprietors are legally chargeable for…
Read More
Breaking News

Reapit report reveals agents’ long-term market confidence amid legislative challenges

Despite the significant challenges posed by a shifting economic landscape and the largest wave of housing legislation in decades, estate and letting agents remain steadfast in their confidence about their long-term future in the industry. According to the first Reapit Property Outlook Report 2025, covering the full breadth of sales and lettings agency opinion countrywide,…
Read More
Breaking News

Owner-Occupiers Drive Resilient Commercial Property Market

Buying Becomes 37% Cheaper Than Renting The latest Commercial Property Demand Index from specialist property finance expert, Rangewell, reveals that while investor appetite across the sector held steady in Q2, strong levels of owner-occupied commercial mortgage activity are helping drive market performance, as business owners increasingly move from renting to buying their long-term premises for…
Read More