Are you a tenant in South East London?

If you are a tenant in the private rented sector, did you know you are more likely to be killed in your home as a result of fire or electric shock?

The electrical safety charity Electrical Safety First is campaigning for a law to be introduced for compulsory electrical testing to be carried out in all rented properties across the UK. Successful campaigning has led a law being made in Scotland that requires landlords to carry out electrical testing in rental homes every 5 years. There are talks in place to roll the law out to Northern Ireland where almost half of electrical fires (48%) are caused by appliances such as dishwashers, cookers and fridge freezers that are routinely provided by landlords.

No current electrical laws to protect tenants

As electricians in South East London, we have seen some very poor examples of privately rented accommodation, and the tenants are powerless to do anything about it. This is really quite a shameful situation as there are no laws requiring landlords to have electrical safety inspections carried out in rented homes. This potentially means that homes with outdated electrical systems and worse still dangerous electrics are bring rented out without any problem being identified.

By introducing a law like Scotland has done, lives will be saved and it will also clear up who is actually responsible for electrical safety in homes. Poor rental home standards is a UK wide problem with 29% of landlords and 40% of tenants not knowing who is responsible for the electrical safety of any appliances supplied with the tenancy. Furthermore, 1.7 million private tenants reported an electrical problem to their landlord which was either ignored or acted upon too slowly. Practices like this must stop and here at Fulcher Edwards, we strongly support the campaign by Electrical Safety First to make a law to make electrical safety checks in rented accommodation compulsory.

Who is responsible for electrical safety in rented homes?

Electrical safety in rented property is a two way responsibility. Regardless of whether electrical safety checks have been carried out or not, landlords are responsible for ensuring that:

• electrical wiring and fittings like sockets and switches
• appliances supplied with the tenancy

are electrically safe.

Tenants are responsible for ensuring that

• Their own electrical appliances are electrically safe to use
• They report any electrical concerns as soon as possible

this is important to prevent unnecessary electrical shock, injury, fire or worse.

Ways to make your rented property safer

The rules around electrical safety are vague which gives unscrupulous landlords an excuse to carry on renting out dangerous property.

It is recommended that landlords have an electrical safety inspection known as an EICR carried out at least once every 5 years or with every change of tenancy. If you are currently renting a property, it is worth asking your landlord if an EICR is available for the property. It is an important document and will give you peace of mind.

• Ask to see an EICR report. If one is not available, how do you know your home electrics are safe?
• Make sure you are not overloading extension leads. Many electrical fires occur because of extension leads.
• Download the smartphone App from Electrical Safety First that will guide you through identifying how safe your home is.

If you have any concerns about your electrics, it is important that you contact your landlord as soon as you become aware. An electrical problem left could cost your life.