Landlords And Electrical Installation
Electrical Installation safety is important to ensure that landlords keep their tenants safe, but also to avoid fines that may be incurred if equipment such as fuse boxes & light switches are found to be faulty or wired incorrectly as a result of the Landlord action (or non-action). This can result in fines, bans and even imprisonment.
Statistics tell us that 22 people died as a result of electrocution or fatal electric burns in 2010. In addition to this, there were 20,403 accidental electrical fires in homes, 48 deaths and 3,324 injuries. This is a staggering amount of injuries and deaths.
UK landlords must provide gas safety certificates, but the rules around electrical installation safety are different and for different parts of the UK too.
For example, electrical equipment must have a safety kitemark such as the CE logo that shows a product meets EU standards. Also, all Landlords (commercial or domestic) should only use a registered electrician.
Electrical Installation Regulations in Scotland
Landlords are obliged to keep a property safe and habitable by doing any repairs as and when required. This includes electrical items such as switches, light fittings or fuse boxes.
In Scotland, Landlords also have to provide Electrical Installation Certificates for any new fixtures or fittings that are put in and all landlords must have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) conducted every five years by a fully registered electrician. A copy of this report must be provided to tenants.
Electrical Installation Regulations in England and Wales
In England and Wales, the regulations differ a little. In Scotland they are a little more strict, and in reality we expect the laws to change at some point in England and Wales to catch up.
Landlords are required to provide electrical installation certificates to show new equipment is safe. However, unlike the Scottish regulations, there is no regulation for testing that these items remain safe. We would like to think that Landlords take the safety of their tenants seriously, and the laws in England and Wales assume the same.
For example, legislation such as the Landlord and Tenant Act mean that landlords should respond to the tenant regarding any requests for repairs. A claim can be made under the Consumer Protection Act if a property is found to be unsafe.
A tenant can report concerns about electrical equipment to their local council, who would then send an enforcement officer to visit the property and make an order for any changes. This could lead to fines or bans, but also means that eviction of a tenant is more difficult if repairs are not kept up to date.
If you require more information on the electrical services you require, then please take a look here: https://www.tfinstallations.co.uk/fire-alarm-installation-and-maintenance-services/electrical-installation/
Electrical Installation Regulations in Northern Ireland
Electrical Installation safety regulations are very similar in Northern Ireland to England and Wales in that electrical equipment such as microwaves, lamps and televisions must be safe to use.
What is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)?
An EICR is an inspection and test of equipment by a qualified electrician, who checks that electrical circuits are not overloaded and who will identify any electric shock hazards or defective electrical work.
Any electrician who carries out these checks must be employed by a company that is a member of an accredited registration scheme.
For more information about Electrical Installations, both commercial or domestic, you can contact us or find out about all of our services, including Fire Alarm Installation and testing https://www.tfinstallations.co.uk/fire-alarm-installation-and-maintenance-services/
