Landlord Electrical Safety Certificates: A Software Solution
July 17, 2024 | Read: 6 minutes
Whether it’s a landlord electrical safety certificate or some other form of official safety certification that you’re required to create, dealing with paperwork can be a time consuming process.
So what is the best way to manage your essential electrical safety certificates?
Let’s find out…
Below we’re exploring the ins and outs of the most common types of electrical safety certificates that electrical businesses handle.
We’ll also be highlighting the best way to manage and look after your certificates and consider how certain digital tools can have a positive impact in helping you organise your jobs, too.
Let’s dive in…
What is a Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate?
A landlord electrical safety certificate usually comes in the form of an electrical inspection condition report, or EICR for short.
These are a necessary and essential part of delivering electrical services.
From installations, to repairs, to on-going maintenance, it’s imperative to have an official EIRC document that’s up to date, indicates a property has been inspected, and so is confirmed as safe.
These certificates (as well as the inspections themselves) give tenants, landlords, and businesses greater protection and peace of mind.
Why is a Landlord Electrical Safety Certificate (EIRC) Needed?
Much like a gas safety certificate, an electrical safety certificate is a legal requirement for landlords to possess. By carrying out regular inspections (see below), landlords can reduce the risk of electrical faults and better guarantee the safety of the occupants in their rented accommodation or place of work.
Any residential business who rents property to a tenant will need to have an EICR. For businesses who carry out electrical work, they will need to record that work has been done safely and successfully.
An electrical safety certificate demonstrates that this process has been carried out and that a property is safe.
It’s a legal requirement that a landlord have an electrical safety certificate for each and every rental property that they own and let.
When is an EIRC Needed?
Since April 2021, it’s been a legal requirement for landlords to have a electrical safety certificate and it must be renewed every five years, and must not exceed that timeframe.
Inspections can be carried out more frequently, of course: these may be required under specific circumstances, such as when buying or selling a property.
There are a variety of EICRs and a certificate can vary depending on the type of property being serviced, or the type of equipment being inspected, too.
Checks are needed on equipment such as:
- Lighting fixtures
- Fuse boxes
- Wiring within a property
- Plug sockets and outlets
- EV charging points
If you’re not renting a property (i.e. aren’t a landlord, but a homeowner) then EIRC’s aren’t required. It is still recommended that you have the wiring and electrics in your home checked regularly, however.
What happens if you don’t have a valid EIRC?
Landlords renting properties in England, Scotland and Wales are required to have a valid EIRC. If you don’t, then legal and/or financial action can be taken against you.
Homeowners themselves, so long as they aren’t subletting their property in any capacity, aren’t required by law to have an EIRC. If you AirBnB your property, you will need one).
However, as mentioned, it’s still sensible to carry out regular checks and homeowners will need to carry out a full domestic electrical inspection when moving into a new property. It’s recommended that once you’re in a property to have this check done every 5-10 years.
How to create an EICR quickly and efficiently:
For Electrical Installers who may carry out electrical inspections and tests, creating and managing EIRCs is essential. Rather than faff around with physical paperwork, going digital is the superior and most sensible way to go. It saves your team time, money, and effort.
Fortunately, there’s software out there to help you do precisely that.
Going Digital with Landlord Electrical Safety Certificates
It may be that your business also carries out PAT Testing, amongst other types of electrical services, so keep in mind that you should be on the lookout for software that can help you with any and all of your certification needs.
Commusoft, for instance, has a proficient database that makes it easy to create, store, save, share, and otherwise access certifications for every single one of your customers and clients. With a self-service customer portal, your clients can access these certificates as and when they need them, too.
There are numerous benefits to using software, so let’s take a quick look at them:
The Benefits of using Software to Manage your Certificates:
There are more than a few benefits to managing your certificates with software tools. For instance, with Commusoft, you can benefit from the following!
- Stop Time-consuming paperwork: Wave goodbye to endless paperwork. Bin the paper copies and store everything in the cloud. Your engineers can create branded documents on mobile devices with Commusoft’s electrical certificate software.
- Make admin less error prone: When you work digitally, you reduce the risk of costly mistakes, thanks to auto-filling tools that carry customer information over to the document you make, in an instant. Our software ensures accuracy and consistency in every certificate and form you create.
- Working more efficiently: Streamline your workflow to boost productivity. Our user-friendly platform allows you to generate certificates quickly and easily. You can even book a call and arrange a demo to see it in action.
- Client satisfaction: Impress your clients with professional, accurate, and timely certificates. Our software helps you deliver exceptional service.
That’s all to say that with a more efficient way to create, manage, and store your certificates you can ensure you’re compliant and always meeting the necessary requirements.
Use Commusoft to Create Electrical Safety Certificates
And more, of course! If you’d like to learn more, explore everything electrical with Commusoft.
Our Electrician Software page highlights the key features of our CRM that are sure to help your business. Enhance office workflows, amaze customers, and boost cash-flow with our tools!
Alternatively, if you want a more in-depth look, then explore electrical certificates within Commusoft. We’re sure you’ll find all the information you need!
