Booking in a five-yearly Electrical Safety Installation Certificate (ESIC) check for your rented property often seems like one of the plethora of minor tasks on the ‘to do’ list.

But failing to do this has cost a landlord in Hastings dearly after he was fined £10,000 by the local council over the regulatory breach.

The landlord, who has not been named, was contacted by Hastings Borough Council’s Housing Renewals team last year who worked with him to get an ESIC but after this failed they took court action to secure a fine, and the landlord’s appeal has now been rejected.

The landlord’s refusal to get the certificate given the cost of completing one locally is baffling. One company in Hastings offers them ‘from’ £169 depending on the size of the property while in any case the cost is tax deductible.

Consequences

"Regular and timely checks of the electrics within properties is an important safeguard for occupiers as faults and issues with electricals may not always be visible,” says Councillor Glenn Haffenden (pictured), lead for housing and community wellbeing.

“The consequence of faulty installations that go undetected may not only put occupiers at risk of electrical shocks but also contribute to other hazards such as fires.

"As a council we are keen to support our landlords who provide a much-needed contribution to the private rented sector in the town.

“Our team of officers will engage with landlords where appropriate to achieve compliance.

“But where this is not appropriate or engagement is not forthcoming, we will not hesitate to take proportionate enforcement action.”