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The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
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PART 1E+WIntroduction
Citation, commencement and applicationE+W
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector [F1and Social Rented Sector] (England) Regulations 2020.
(2) These Regulations come into force on 1st June 2020.
[F2(3) These Regulations apply in England only in relation to specified tenancies.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 1(1) inserted (1.11.2025 for specified purposes, 1.5.2026 in so far as not already in force) by The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1043), regs. 1(2)(b), 3(2)(a)
F2Reg. 1(3) substituted (1.11.2025 for specified purposes, 1.5.2026 in so far as not already in force) by The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1043), regs. 1(2)(b), 3(2)(b)
Commencement Information
InterpretationE+W
2. In these Regulations—
“authorised person” means a person authorised in writing by the local housing authority(1) for the purpose of taking remedial action under regulations 6 and 10;
[F3“electrical equipment” means those electrical fixtures, fittings and appliances that are not electrical installations;]
“electrical installation” has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Building Regulations 2010(2);
“electrical safety standards” means the standards for electrical installations in the eighteenth edition of the Wiring Regulations, published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the British Standards Institution as BS 7671: 2018(3);
F4...
F5...
F6...
[F7“prospective tenant” means, in relation to a specified tenancy, a person—
(a)
who requests, from a prospective landlord, any information about the residential premises that would be demised under the tenancy for the purpose of deciding whether to rent those premises;
(b)
who makes a request to view those premises for the purpose of deciding whether to rent those premises;
(c)
who makes an offer, whether oral or written, to rent those premises; or
(d)
to whom a registered provider makes an offer, whether oral or written, to let those premises;]
[F7“registered provider” means a registered provider of social housing;]
[F7“relevant equipment” means—
(a)
where a registered provider grants a specified tenancy, electrical equipment provided by the registered provider under the tenancy; or
(b)
where a registered provider intends to grant a specified tenancy, electrical equipment that would be provided by the registered provider under the tenancy if the tenancy were granted;]
“remedial notice” means a notice served under regulation 4(1) of these Regulations;
“specified tenancy” means a tenancy(4) of residential premises in England which—
(a)
grants one or more persons the right to occupy all or part of the premises as their only or main residence;
(b)
provides for payment of rent (whether or not a market rent); and
(c)
is not a tenancy of a description specified in Schedule 1 to these Regulations;
“urgent remedial action” means such action identified in a report under regulation 3(3) as is immediately necessary in order to remove the danger present and risk of injury.
Textual Amendments
F3Words in reg. 2 inserted (1.11.2025 for specified purposes, 1.5.2026 in so far as not already in force) by The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1043), regs. 1(2)(b), 4(a)
F4Words in reg. 2 omitted (1.11.2025 for specified purposes, 1.5.2026 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1043), regs. 1(2)(b), 4(b)
F5Words in reg. 2 omitted (1.11.2025 for specified purposes, 1.5.2026 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1043), regs. 1(2)(b), 4(c)
F6Words in reg. 2 omitted (1.11.2025 for specified purposes, 1.5.2026 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1043), regs. 1(2)(b), 4(d)
F7Words in reg. 2 inserted (1.11.2025 for specified purposes, 1.5.2026 in so far as not already in force) by The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1043), regs. 1(2)(b), 4(e)
Commencement Information
(1)
See the definition of “local housing authority” in section 123(6) of the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
(2)
S.I. 2010/2214. There are no relevant amendments.
(3)
ISBN-13: 978-1-78561-170-4. Copies can be obtained from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Michael Faraday House, Six Hill Way, Stevenage SG1 2AY.
(4)
See the definition of “tenancy” in section 122(6) of the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
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