For some time we have been aware that there is some confusion amongst landlords and tenants over who actually has the responsibility for electrical safety in rented property.
By law:
- Landlords must ensure that electrical installations and wiring are maintained in a safe condition and any electrical equipment provided is safe before a tenancy begins and throughout its duration.
- Tenants must maintain any electrical appliances that they bring into the house and they should feel obliged to bring any electrical problems to the attention of their landlord as soon as they are evident.
The main legislation for landlords is the Landlords and Tenants Act 1985 and the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 and 1984 and more recently the Building Regulations for England and Wales were amended in 2005 to include Part P which covers electrical safety in dwellings.
Faulty electrics and electrical equipment are attributed annually as the cause of around 70 deaths and 350,000 injuries in UK homes. Plus almost half of all domestic fires are caused by electricity and statistically if you live in private rented accommodation you are at a higher risk of electric shock.
So before you move into your rented home ask the landlord for an EICR report. The Electrical Installation Condition Report also known as a Periodic Inspection or Fixed Wire Test should be carried out by a registered electrician at least every 5 years or on a change of tenancy. You should also as for certification that any recent electrical work has been carried out to the UK national standard BS 7671. Although it is not a legal requirement it is recommended that all portable appliances have been PAT tested and should therefore have a sticker displaying the test date clearly visible.
A few other simple checks that you can perform are:
- Check cables. If installation cables are coated in black rubber, lead or fabric this could be an indication that the electrical installation is old. On appliances check that leads /flexible cables are not frayed or damaged.
- Check that light fittings, switches and plug sockets are in good condition and not loose fitting, cracked or showing any evidence of overheating or burn marks.
- Check that the fuse box has RCD protection. An RCD (Residual Current Device) is a life –saving device that protects against electrical shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires. The safest form of RCD protection is incorporated into the Fusebox. This should be tested regularly by pressing the test button.
Once you have settled into your rented accommodation there are a few things that you can do to reduce the risk of electrical fires and accidents.
- Don’t overload sockets
- Don’t plug adaptors into adaptors
- Don’t attempt to carry out any repairs to circuits or appliances yourself.
- Don’t take mains-powered appliances into the bathroom
- Don’t touch electrical appliances or switches if your hands are wet
- Don’t attempt to use electrical appliances from overseas in the UK as they may operate at a different voltage
- TELL YOUR LANDLORD IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICS.
Finally in the unfortunate event that you have reported a problem to your landlord and he/she either ignored your request or refused to investigate the situation and put it right then you should contact your local authority. Your LA can if necessary take enforcement action and will ensure that your landlord is meeting their legal obligations.