Landlord fined R-equivalent £7,500 for ignoring 21 electrical defects — a warning SA landlords shouldn't dismiss
The Negotiator · Marc Shoffman · 24 August 2026
TL;DR
A UK tribunal has upheld a £7,500 fine against a landlord company, Forthbrook Ltd, after it failed to address 21 electrical defects — including seven requiring immediate action — within the legally required 28-day window. West Suffolk Council had requested an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) following a damp complaint at a property housing a mother and her four children. The report, eventually provided after months of delays, revealed exposed cables and other dangerous faults. Remedial works were completed 82 days past the legal deadline, with no extension application ever filed. The landlord appealed the fine, arguing temporary safety measures had been put in place, but the tribunal found in the council's favour, noting the fine could have been higher.
Our take
While this case unfolded in the UK, it carries a direct lesson for South African landlords and letting agents. Under the Rental Housing Act and the OHS Act, SA landlords have a legal duty to maintain rental properties in a habitable and safe condition — and electrical safety falls squarely within that obligation. The Electrical Installation Regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act require a valid Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for any electrical installation. Failing to maintain one, or ignoring known defects, exposes landlords to municipal enforcement, civil liability, and potential criminal sanction. What this UK case illustrates is that courts will not accept cost concerns or contractor delays as valid defences when tenants — especially families with children — are living with live electrical hazards. SA landlords should treat an expired or flagged CoC as urgent, not optional. Letting agents also carry responsibility: if you manage a property, ensure compliance documentation is current and act promptly on any tenant safety complaint. Tenants in SA can escalate unresolved safety issues to their local Rental Housing Tribunal at no cost.
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