News

All privately-let homes in England must have electrical installations checked every five years under new rules announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

However, it has not provided a start date. Housing Secretary James Brokenshire yesterday announced plans for the mandatory checks to be introduced alongside the launch of a separate consultation on building regulations, following a review by Dame Judith Hackitt in the aftermath of the Grenfell fire tragedy, which will be part of a comprehensive review of guidelines covering fire safety beginning this autumn.

“There’s nothing more important than ensuring people are safe in their own homes. That is why I am announcing a package of measures focused on improving building safety, having listened carefully to the concerns which have been raised” says Brokenshire, ”Dame Judith’s report sets out the right framework to improve safety, but I will not hesitate to go further than the recommendations where I deem it necessary. That is why I am going further than my original commitment to simply clarify the guidelines, by commencing an end-to-end technical review of the fire
safety aspects of building regulations in the autumn” continues Brokenshire.