What electrical tests do private landlords need to carry out?
by Admin
Posted on 06-07-2022 09:28 AM
What electrical tests do private landlords need to carry out?
Most landlords are already committed to carrying out electrical inspections each year, however there is evidence to suggest tenants in the private rented sector face a higher risk of electrical shock and fires caused by electrical faults in their homes compared to social housing tenants. To address this the government carried out an industry wide consultation process on electrical safety in the private rented sector with the output being tougher safety measures to better protect private tenants by reducing the risk of electric shocks or fires caused by electrical faults. In practice, it is the remedial work that landlords carry out in response to the five yearly checks that will deliver the benefits to the private rented sector.
How do I know if my electrician is registered?
The electrician will test and inspect the fixed electrical installations in the property. For example: wiring, plug sockets, light fittings, fuse boxes, electric showers and extractor fans. They can make any immediate hazards safe before they leave your home. They won't check the safety of items that can be moved around, such as tvs, white goods, kettles or toasters, unless your landlord has also asked them to do a portable appliance (pat) test. Pat testing is not a legal requirement for landlords but it's a recommended way for them to keep your home safe. You can check the electrician is registered to carry out inspections and do repair work.
You must have our permission before any electrical work is carried out in your home – and we'll need confirmation that the work has been done by a qualified person. Electrical work must always be carried out by an electrician registered with the national inspection council for electrical installation contracting (niceic). The niceic website allows you to search for registered electricians in your area, as well as providing safety advice for householders.
As a general principle, the electrical wiring, switches, sockets and all supplied electrical equipment must be safe and in good working order. There are safety standards explained within building regulations and wiring regulations that are explained in british standard bs 7671: 2018. In you are in any doubt about the safety of any installation, a qualified electrician registered with one of the government-approved providers work to uk national safety standards and will be able to advise on the give you a safety certificate to confirm that their work has been designed, built, inspected and tested in line with that standard the minimum standards depend on whether you are an owner occupier or a landlord/tenant.
If you fit a plug yourself, make sure you wire it correctly and always use the right size fuse. Always use short, undamaged wires and don't join two pieces of wire together. You can also get an independent registered electrician to do the work for you.
What is a fuse?
For plugs and sockets, watch for: hot plugs or sockets, scorch marks, fuses that often blow or flickering lights - these are signs of loose wiring or other electrical problems badly wired plugs – any coloured wires sticking out could come loose and debris could also get into the plug overloaded sockets – plugging too many electrical appliances into one socket can lead to overheating.