Social housing speed read: Electrical safety standards regulations in social rented sectors
26th February, 2026
At the end of 2025, the Government released guidance on the duties placed on social landlords under the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020.
These regulations originally only applied to private rented homes, but were amended in 2025 to also cover social rented properties.
These regulations require all landlords, including social landlords, to ensure that the electrical installations in their rented properties meet safety standards and are inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years. Landlords must also obtain a written report and provide copies to tenants, and if requested, the local council.
From 1 December 2025, these regulations extended to new social housing tenancies, and from 1 May 2026 will apply to all existing tenancies. This aligns social housing requirements with those in the private sector.
As part of the transitional period of these regulations, social landlords must complete inspections and equipment checks by 1 November 2026, with any remedial work carried out as soon as reasonably practicable, and within 28 days after the inspection. Subsequent inspections of electrical equipment and installations must be undertaken every five years.
The regulations require that if a report shows that remedial work or further investigation is required, landlords must complete this work within 28 days, or any shorter period, and provide written confirmation to the tenant that the work has been carried out.
The guidance specifies that landlords will not be in breach of their duties under the regulations if they can demonstrate that they have taken all reasonable steps to comply with the relevant duty. For example, if a tenant does not allow access for the inspections to be carried out, the landlord will not be in breach of their duties, but they should retain evidence to show that reasonable steps were taken to comply.
If you would like to discuss the potential impact of these regulations, or have any queries, please contact our Social Housing lawyers.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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