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<p>Many landlords and agents take their responsibility seriously and already make
sure electrical installations are safe. Even before these regulations came into force,
landlords were legally required to make sure that their properties are free of serious
electrical hazards. These regulations therefore require all landlords to do what good
landlords already do — make sure the electrical installations in their rented properties
are safe. However, landlord and agent groups have reported to us that there are still
large numbers of rented properties with potentially dangerous electrical installations.
This highlights just how important the regulations are, as poorly maintained electrical
installations and electrical faults can cause deaths or injury and tenants are spending
more, if not all, of their time in the home.</p><p>In order to allow landlords time
to comply with the regulations they have been phased in. We have published guidance,
for landlords, tenants and local authorities in the context of Covid-19 which can
be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities</a>.</p><p>The
regulations are clear on the issue of compliance. A landlord will not be in breach
of the duty to comply with a remedial notice if the landlord can show they have taken
all reasonable steps to comply. We have also advised local authorities that we expect
them to take a pragmatic and common-sense approach to enforcement of these regulations,
and other standards in the private rented sector, and that the level of any penalty
should be set taking into account likely harm and culpability.</p>
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