Rental Property Electrical Code Requirements

An important guideline for any rental property is that it complies with its local electrical code requirements. These requirements, established by minimum housing authorities, are designed to protect the safety of all dwelling occupants. In this regard, landlords must always be vigilant that their properties are in compliance with their applicable minimum housing codes.

The following provides some general guidelines that pertain to minimum housing code requirements for electrical systems. These guidelines are provided "for information only" as they may differ from the exact requirements specified by your local minimum housing code.

Examples of Housing Code Requirements for Electrical Systems

• All wiring must be correctly installed and have proper overload protection such as fuses or circuit breakers,
• Electrical fixtures, plug outlets and switches must be properly installed and maintained,
• Each room in the dwelling that is habitable should have no less than two permanently wired plug outlets, or one outlet and one light fixture,
• At least one electric light fixture should be located in the kitchen, bathroom, stairway, and corridor, and
• Adequate light fixtures and light switches must be provided in all rooms and common areas of the property.

Having knowledge of minimum code requirements can be especially handy when preparing to make an offer to purchase a rental property. If the property is not up to code standards, you can account for the shortcomings with a lower purchase offer. This will allow you to complete the upgrade work that is needed to gain compliance with minimum housing code standards.

For more information about electrical system code requirements, please visit The Landlord's Library book collection. It's an incredible, one-stop source for practical, comprehensive information on the entire subject of residential landlording.