Rental property can be at an increased risk environment when it comes to electricity due to a number of factors, including landlords’ ignorance about where their legal responsibilities lie and how the mass pieces of government legislation apply and when.
The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) has an aim to reduce the number of injuries and deaths caused by electricity and one of the charity’s major areas of campaigning in 2009 is to help make rental property more safe.
The majority of landlords are probably aware that there is no legal requirement to supply an annual electrical safety certificate, as there is with gas.
However, a landlord is required by law to ensure that:
- the electrical installation is safe when a tenancy begins
- the electrical installation is maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy
- any electrical appliance provided in the rented property is safe and has the CE marking.
The electrical installation refers to all the fixed electrical equipment in a property – cables, sockets, switches, light fittings, fuse box, and wiring.
Visit our Green Surveyor ® division that can undertake the above certification.
For information on our Domestic EPC service visit:
http://www.syntegra-epc.co.uk/services-we-offer/domestic-energy-performance-certificate-epc/
OR contact us directly for any queries or a no obligation quote.
Tags: elec certificate, electrical certificate, electrical safety certificate, electrical safety council, esc, landlord law, landlord property, landlord responsibilities, rental property
We own a flat in a purpose built block fairly new block about 12 years old which we let.
When we bought it 7 years ago, we had the test done and given a certificate.
How often do we need to have it done ?.
Your advice appreciated.
Francis Davis
For private residential rental properties electrical safety certificates are required when electrical work is carried out by a competent electrical contractor/electrician. However, it is good practice to undertake checks on an annual basis by a qualifed electrician although there is no legal requirement.
For HMO property (dependant on the Local Authority policy) electrical safety certificates generally have to be undertaken every 5 years. There also may be more stringent electrical safety certification/checks for social rented accomodation. You should check with your local authority if you are renting to social housing or your property is an HMO(House with Multiple Occupants).
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above quote (However, a landlord is required by LAW to ensure that:
- the electrical installation is safe when a tenancy begins) How does the landlord know that the property is safe without the correct tests applied to the property