Newton Electrical Contractors Ltd, are specialists in Landlords Inspections and the requirements for Electrical Safety in let premisis. We are available free of charge for any advice or consultation in regard to electrical safety. we have provided the below guide to assist Landlords in the mine field of manditory and non regulated inspections.
There is no specific law that governs the letting of a domestic or commercial property, but comes under many regulations, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Electricity at Work Regulations, Guidance Note 3 on the Inspection and Testing of Installations and the Consumer Protection Act 1987.
By law you are obligated to ensure your Electrical Installations and Appliances are safe. Landlords and Letting Agents have a "Duty of Care" to take sufficient steps to guard the users from hazards such as electric shock and fire. If you don't have an electrical assessment, how will you know if the system is safe? If anything happens, any defence is likely to fail under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Landlords Guide to Electrical Safety
Letting a property is a matter of risk assessment and ensuring that you as a landlord or letting agent have done as much as is reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of your tenants. If however you manage the risk poorly then the consequences could be costly.
All the below are recomendations from us, that will assist you in your risk analysis. You are advised to carry out regular visual inspections (in residential properties only) and have regular periodic electrical checks carried out by a Registered Qualified Electrician. Please find some guidelines as follows:
- Keep any electrical appliances to a minimum.
- Keep all reciepts and ensure all the appliances are in working order.
- All second hand equipment should be checked prior to being put into service.
- Supply your tenants with manufacturers operating and safety instructions
- Ensure flexible cables and plugs are in good condition.
- Ensure fuses are the correct type and rating.
- Ensure that plugs are BS1363 or 1363A rated for use in the UK and have sleeved live and neutral pins.
- Make sure your tennent know the location, operation and have access to your main consumer unit.
- Make a note of all fuse ratings in your inventory and any slight damage to appliances that does not effect safety.
- In the event an appliance becomes defective remove it from use immediately.
Compliance:
Newton Electrical Contractors Ltd, Landlords Inspections in Harrogate, recommend that Letting Agents and Landlords make absolutely sure that the premisis that they are letting are electrically safe and the appliances that are supplied with the property are also safe for use. In order to do this Newton Electrical Contractors recommends:
- A yearly electrical inspection is carried out by the Landlord or Agent recording all findings in an Electrical Safety Log.
- Portable Appliance Testing carried out at periodic intervals (Annually) or with any change of tenancy. This should be carried out by a competent Electrical Contractor. Please find PAT Testing in this site for further details and our rates.
- A Periodic Inspection and Test is carried out every 5 years on the fixed wiring to ensure the safety of the installation and that the installation complies with the current regulations BS7671-2001. Please find Periodic Inspection and testing in this site for more information and our rates.
All alterations to fixed wiring installations require to be certified by a Minor Works Certificate or an Electrical Installation Certificate and in the case of Domestic Dwellings could require a Part P Building Regs Certtificate. Keep all certificates and records of inspections in an Electrical Log.