Morris highlighted that landlords have a duty of care to ensure their properties are safe and habitable. Under the new regulations, the electrical installations in landlord’s properties must be inspected and tested at least every five years thereafter. Landlords who fail to have these checks completed by a qualified professional could be fined up to £5,000 for a first offence, and up to £30,000 for reoffenders. Morris said: “It may surprise you that some landlords are unprepared for the latest phase of the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations. “Some landlords still believe that requiring a valid EICR only applies to new tenancies, and are unaware that the regulations also encompass existing tenancies.”