As
electricians in South East London, we carry out work for tenants and
landlords in and around the M25 area. The standard of rental homes in
the private sector varies greatly and whilst most landlords do
actually maintain a safe standard of electrical safety in their
properties, there is still a minority of landlords who continue to
rent out properties which are in a dangerous electrical condition.
Are
there any laws that protect tenants against dangerous electrics?
Unfortunately there is no obligation on the landlord to provide any
kind of electrical safety standards in their home. Scarily, this
means that they can rent a property out with dangerous electrics.
Every year, people are needlessly killed by a fatal electric shock in
their rented home that could have been easily avoided.
Here at Fulcher Edwards, we carry out a wide range of electrical services in London to reputable landlords who wish to rent out their
property at rental standard. Not only does this protect your assets
but it protects the electrical safety of your tenants. As a
landlord, you are responsible for showing how you ensured the
electrical safety of your tenants if an electrical incident happens
at the property.
There has been pressure on the Government to introduce a law that
makes it compulsory to have electrical safety checks carried out in
rental properties at least once every 5 years. In Scotland, this has
just become law, so there is hope that the law will be extended into
England and Wales. All electricians and landlords who we work for
are all in support of this law which will save lives and prevent
horrific electrical fatalities and injuries from occurring.
What
kind of problems do electricians find in rented homes?
It is fair to say that there is a big difference between rented
properties in the private sector. Some landlords are very good at
ensuring their properties are safe, and it is fair to say that some
rental properties are literally 'shocking' (excuse the pun.) As London electrical contractors we are often asked by landlords to
bring their properties up to rental standard. To keep on the right
side of the law and to avoid electrical shock and injury in your
property we recommend:
- An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) to be carried out in each rental property at least once every 5 years or with every change of tenancy.
- An RCD (Residual Current Device) these are fitted as standard on all consumer units fitted in recent years. An RCD will activate in the event of an electrical fault or problem prevented death or injury.
- A smoke alarm and CO2 detector fitted to comply with the new laws being introduced in October 2015.
- All electrical work in the property must be carried out by a qualified and registered electrician as a Part P certificate is needed to show compliance with Part P regulations.
The problems that we find in rented properties can be alarming. We
have been called by local authorities to carry out enforced
electrical work in properties where there is real risk to life, then
there are other properties where it is obvious that the electrics
have never been looked at since the property was built which could
have been nearly 50 years ago! Unfortunately because no law exists
which makes electrical safety a legal matter, landlords are
repeatedly getting away with putting tenants lives at risk.
What
to look for as a tenant
Before you sign a tenancy agreement, be sure to ask for an EICR and
the Part P certificate for any electrical work that has been carried
out recently. Most reputable landlords are happy to show you these
documents and many letting agents insist on having them in place
before they will market a property for rent.
If these documents are not in place, ask yourself if you are willing
to compromise your electrical safety – it is only when someone is
killed or seriously injured when these changes often happen.
No comments:
Post a Comment