Homes in Kensington and Chelsea and what they mean for an EICR
Council tax records date nearly two-thirds of the borough's homes to before 1900, and only about one in fifteen to 2000 or later. More than four in five households live in a flat: 57% in purpose-built blocks and 24% in converted houses.
Stucco and brick townhouses divided into flats keep plenty that matters to an electrician: long cable runs over several floors, consumer units (fuse boards) tucked into lower-ground cupboards, and circuits altered in one refurbishment after another. In listed buildings and conservation areas, limits on alterations can mean older cable routes stay in use, so tracing and testing each circuit takes care.
Mansion blocks and post-war blocks usually have a landlord supply for lifts, stair lighting and door entry. The rules for rented homes cover your flat's own installation, not those shared parts, though the freeholder or managing agent should still have them checked.
Large houses can have several distribution boards, underfloor heating, garden lighting and lighting-control systems. Each board and circuit is tested, so allow for a longer visit.
Letting a property in Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough has no selective licensing, so a flat or house let to one household needs no council licence. HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) are another matter. Mandatory licensing covers five or more people, and the additional scheme, running from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2028, covers other HMOs with three or more people from two or more households. The council notes that a shared flat in a purpose-built block of three or more flats comes under the additional scheme, even with five occupants.
To apply for either HMO licence you need a current EICR, along with a gas safety certificate and test certificates for the fire alarm and emergency lighting.
For every private let in the borough, licensed or not, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require an inspection and test at least every five years by a qualified, competent person and a copy of the report for your tenants. Items coded C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous), and any further investigation the report calls for, need to be completed within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so. Penalties run up to £40,000.
