New Wiring Regulations for Battery Storage: What Social Housing Landlords Need to Know

A regulatory change that affects every landlord installing battery storage, whether it is already in your programme or not.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are becoming a routine part of social housing retrofit. Paired with solar photovoltaic panels or installed as standalone units, they are appearing across Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund programmes in growing numbers. For many landlords, they have quietly become a standard specification item.

The installation of solar PV and battery storage systems is notifiable work. Where the installer is a member of a Government-recognised Competent Persons Scheme, they may self-certify the work without a separate building control approval. Where an installer is not a scheme member, building control approval is required. Compliance with BS 7671 is the recognised means by which electrical installers demonstrate that their work satisfies the Part P requirement of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 (Electrical Safety in Dwellings). A significant change to the wiring regulations is now directly relevant to a substantial and growing portion of social housing stock, and to the contracts, frameworks, and competence requirements that sit behind delivery.