What progress is being made to introduce mandatory electrical safety inspections in the private and social rented sectors in Wales?
Section 91 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, once implemented, will require landlords to ensure their dwelling is fit for human habitation. Further, section 94 of the Act requires the Welsh Ministers to make regulations relating to the determination of whether a dwelling is fit for human habitation. These regulations will include additional requirements for landlords to install working carbon monoxide alarms, smoke alarms and undertake an electrical safety test at least every five years.
I am committed to ensuring the benefits of this Act, including the provisions relating to fitness for human habitation, are implemented by the end of this Assembly term. Subject to the Assembly agreeing certain amendments to the 2016 Act that will be brought forward as a separate Bill, implementation will include extending the current notice period for no fault evictions to six months, from the current two months, and prohibiting the issuing of such a notice within the first six months of occupation. Proposals relating to these amendments were the subject of a Welsh Government consultation (see https://gov.wales/increasing-minimum-notice-period-no-fault-eviction).