Decision details

Policy for imposing financial penalties under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The council has a statutory duty to enforce The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, which came into force on 01 June 2020. The regulations place mandatory duties on private landlords to maintain electrical safety standards in privately rented homes.

 

Local housing authorities have been empowered to impose financial penalties of up to £30,000 on private landlords who breach their duties under the regulations. However, before the council can impose such penalties it must first adopt a just and proportionate policy which provides a framework for determining the level of penalty that should be imposed for each breach identified.

Decision:

Cabinet agreed:

 

1.  To approve the adoption of the proposed “Policy for imposing financial penalties under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020” annexed to this report; and

 

2.  To delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Services, to approve minor amendments to the policy.

Reasons for the decision:

All local housing authorities are expected to adopt a policy that will allow them to impose financial penalties so they can effectively enforce the regulations. Having an adopted policy will help to ensure that private tenants are protected from unsafe electrical installations that have the potential to cause harm by way of electrical shock and/or fire. Furthermore, the council’s ability to retain the financial penalties collected will help fund future private sector housing enforcement activities, which will ultimately contribute to safer housing in Thanet.

Alternative options considered:

The option to adopt an alternative policy was rejected on the basis that the proposed policy was deemed to be just and proportionate.

 

The option to not adopt a policy was rejected on the basis that such a decision would deprive the council of an enforcement capability that is intended to help protect private tenants from suffering harm as a consequence of being exposed to unsafe electrical installations.

Report author: Richard Hopkins

Publication date: 20/11/2020

Date of decision: 19/11/2020

Decided at meeting: 19/11/2020 - Cabinet

Effective from: 28/11/2020

Accompanying Documents: