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The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 have been amended by new regulations taking effect for private landlords on 1 November 2025. The principal obligations for private landlords remain focused on the fixed electrical installation (EICR), but there are some important refinements—most notably a statutory "reasonable steps" defence and a higher civil penalty ceiling.
The amending instrument extends the regime to registered providers of social housing and renames the 2020 Regulations to include the social rented sector. For private landlords, the core installation duties are unchanged in concept; new duties about landlord-supplied electrical equipment apply only to registered providers. We mention those only where it helps to avoid confusion.
Private landlords must continue to ensure:
Other tidy-ups to the reporting and paperwork:
The existing duties to give the report to existing tenants within 28 days, to the local housing authority within 7 days of a written request, and to any prospective tenant within 28 days of a written request continue as before (with minor drafting clarifications).
A statutory defence now applies if a landlord can show they took all reasonable steps to comply with the duty. This defence attaches to:
Importantly, where a tenant prevents access, the Regulations confirm a landlord will not be treated as having failed to take all reasonable steps solely because they did not bring legal proceedings to secure entry. The defence is factual and evidence-based—what constitutes "reasonable steps" will be for tribunals and courts to assess on the facts of each case.
Local authorities retain their powers to serve remedial notices, arrange remedial and urgent remedial action, and recover costs. Two practical points for private landlords:
The proceeds of financial penalties may now be used by councils for enforcement across "rented housing" (not just the private rented sector), but that does not change the way a case would be investigated or determined.
The definition of "specified tenancy" remains the foundation of the regime. It continues to cover tenancies of residential premises that are let as a person's only or main home and where rent is payable (typically, ASTs or soon-to-be assured periodic tenancies). Lodgers and company lets and other arrangements that do not grant occupation as a main residence remain out of scope.
The only new exclusion is for lettings of moveable structures, vehicles or vessels.
A new Part 2A imposes duties on registered providers to check and maintain the safety of electrical equipment (fixtures, fittings, appliances) they provide, with a five-year cycle and associated records (ISIT records). These duties do not apply to private landlords. Your compliance continues to centre on the fixed electrical installation and acting on EICR findings.
For private landlords and letting agents, the relevant changes commence on 1 November 2025.