The buy-to-let boom may be past its peak, but there are still over a million private landlords in the UK. They are being joined by a new breed of landlord, as owners who need to move on are choosing to rent out their existing home rather than sell at a knock-down price. Typically these landlords are also tenants in someone else’s property, which gives them a unique perspective on the health and safety issues that go hand in hand with property rental.
Electrical safety is one of the landlord’s most important responsibilities, which first time landlords overlook at their peril, as unsafe electrics cause around 12,500 house fires, 750 serious injuries and 10 deaths each year. Rental properties are potentially more at risk than owner-occupied homes, not only because they get more wear and tear, but because tenants may carry out electrical work without the knowledge of the landlord, which may not comply with national safety standards or Building regulations, and leave an accident waiting to happen.
Landlords can end up in court if a tenant is injured by an unsafe appliance or fitting that they have provided, as they are legally responsible for maintaining and checking electrical installations such as fire alarm systems, wiring, lighting and sockets as well as appliances supplied, including kettles, televisions, microwaves and washing machines. To protect themselves and their tenants, landlords should put into practice a regular property maintenance and appliance testing procedure, which includes an annual inspection by a government approved electrician, such as one registered with NICEIC.
Jim Speirs, Executive Chairman of electrical regulatory body NICEIC, said: “NICEIC strongly advises landlords to have annual checks of both fixed installations and portable appliances on rented property. Many landlords have no idea of the history of the electrical circuitry in their property – when it was first installed, how it has been extended, and if it is safe. With 40% of homes in Britain built before 1945, these are vital questions, which only an expert can answer. An NICEIC electrician should be the first stop for landlords wanting to make sure properties are safe for their tenants.”
NICEIC has produced a free Fact Sheet to guide landlords through the electrical safety laws, with a handy checklist of things to do to protect both their property and their tenants. The NICEIC maintains a list of around 24,000 Approved Contractors and Domestic Installers, who are regularly inspected and meet national safety standards and codes of practice. To download the Fact Sheet for Landlords or to find an NICEIC registered electrician in your area, log onto www.findanelectrician.info or telephone 0870 013 0382.
