Landlord Electrical Certificate.... Proof your property is safe
Electrical Safety - the Key Points
- There are around 30 deaths and 4,000 accidents annually in the UK involving electrics, so don't think it can't happen in your properties.
- If you let property in England & Wales you must ensure that electrical equipment and the electrical system are safe.
- There is currently no statutory requirement to have annual safety checks on electrical equipment as there is with gas, but it advisable to do so as you can still be liable if things go wrong.
- You should ensure that tenants are given copies of operating and safety instructions for ALL equipment in the premises and you should carry out regular checks.
As a landlord you are required by law to ensure:
- That the electrical installation in the property is safe when your tenancy begins
- That the electrical installation is maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy, and
- That any appliance provided is safe and has at least the CE marking (which is the manufacturer’s claim that it meets all the requirements of European law).
In order to meet the requirements as a landlord you will need to carry out regular basic safety checks to ensure the electrical installation and appliances remain in good working order.
A good landlord should have an electrical inspection carried out by before a new tenant moves in, and a complete Periodic Inspection Report, soon to be known as Electric Condition Report every 5 years.
At Blu Sparx Electrical Contractor, if we carry out your inspection we will provide you with an additional copy of the inspection report (known as a periodic inspection report) for you to make available to your tenants.
If as part of your tenancy you provide portable appliances, we will also provide you with PAT testing service. Thus ensuring that the appliances have been checked for safety and again provide you with the test register for this.
If you live let a house in muliple occupation, then as a landlord you are required to have the electrical installation checked every five years and a periodic inspection report showing the property continues to be electrically safe must be available at all times.