ANB Councillors approve £1,000 penalty for landlords in breach of electrical safety standards

Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have approved a £1,000 penalty for landlords who are in breach of electrical safety standards in the private rental sector.

The fine was agreed at a meeting of the borough council’s Operations Committee, at Antrim Civic Centre, on Monday evening, for offences under the Electrical Safety Standards for Private Tenancies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024.

A report to the committee said the “intent is to reduce the risk of injury or death caused by an electrical fault within private rental properties”.

New tenancies must be compliant from 1 April. Existing tenancies must be compliant by 1 December, or from the date of the first electrical inspection.

Landlords are required to ensure a rental property has its hardwired electrical installation inspected and tested by a qualified electrician every five years or less.

Following the inspection, they must obtain the electrician’s report confirming whether the property has met the industry standard or if the report identifies a fault, take remedial action within the required timescale, retain a copy of this report and provide a copy of the report to the tenant within 28 days and to the council within seven days, on request.

The report stated that a landlord who fails to comply with any of their duties under the regulations is committing an offence.  As a result, the landlord may be taken to court and face a maximum fine of £5,000 or a fixed penalty notice. The sum of £1,000 is the maximum fixed penalty sum.

It also indicated that a “consistent rate” to be imposed by councils across Northern Ireland has been proposed.

Proposing the committee accepts the recommendation to impose the highest penalty, Macedon Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Foster said:

“It is good to see it set to the maximum rate. There has to be a deterrent. I’m glad to see it will be £1,000. Electrical safety in a house cannot be under-estimated especially in tenancies.”

The proposal was seconded by Threemilewater Alliance Cllr Julie Gilmour.

Antrim DUP Alderman John Smyth asked if there would be a cost to council.

He was informed by an officer there would be no cost to the local authority. He indicated the council already carries out “fitness inspections” on rental properties and this inspection will be “an add on to existing inspections”.