The updated Scottish Government guidance outlines the basic level of repair that all private rented properties must meet and requires electrical safety inspections to be carried out by a qualified electrician at least once every five years.

Scotland’s largest construction trade body is now reminding landlords that it is their duty to familiarise themselves with the amendments and ensure that installations for the supply of electricity are in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order.

The updated version of the Repairing Standard statutory guidance specifies that a rental property must have one or more residual current device (RCD) in its consumer unit to reduce the risk of electrocution and fire. Additionally, landlords should advise tenants to check that the RCD works by pressing the integral test button at specified times.

Bob Cairney, director of technical services at SELECT, said: “The changes in the Repairing Standard statutory guidance are not intended to create a different tier for a private rented property versus other forms of tenure when carrying out periodic inspection and testing.

“They are intended to enable landlords to respond appropriately where a deficiency has been identified that there is no RCD protection provided to meet the minimum requirement of the standard, i.e. there must be at least one RCD.

“Landlords may now need to take some action where situation is identified in an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and the electrical contractor responsible for the periodic inspection and testing should be able to provide appropriate advice on how best to comply.

“Landlords who are unsure of what action to take should contact their local SELECT member, who will be happy to conduct an inspection and advise accordingly.”

The Scottish Government has introduced the amendments after pointing out that similar standards are already in place in the social rented sector.