The new regulations, if implemented, mean new tenancies from 1st July 2020 must comply.
All tenancies must comply, including those granted before 1st July 2020, by 1st April 2021.

The Electrical Safety Regulations will require private landlords to ensure electrical safety standards in the 2018 edition of the IET wiring regulations (BS7671:2018) are met, whenever those premises are let under a tenancy. There will be a further duty on landlords to ensure that a qualified person inspects every fixed electrical installation at least every five years and issues a report. The landlord must supply a copy of the report to each existing tenant within 28 days of the inspection. If remedial work is required, the landlord must carry it out within 28 days (or sooner, if stipulated in the report).

As drafted, the Electrical Safety Regulations will apply to any tenancy of residential premises that grants one or more persons the right to occupy all or part of the premises as their only or main residence and which provides for payment of rent. Certain tenancies are, however, excluded from the ambit of the Electrical Safety Regulations, including tenancies granted by social or resident landlords, long leases or tenancies granting a right of occupation for a term of seven years or more, student lettings in halls of residence and tenancies granted to occupiers of hostels, refuges, care homes, hospitals or hospices.

Local authorities will be given powers to enforce the Electrical Safety Regulations, with different regimes applying to urgent and non-urgent remedial work. Local authorities will also have the power to impose civil penalties on private landlords for breach of their obligations, up to a maximum of £30,000.