Every year in the UK there are:
70
Deaths
350,000
Injuries
PAT (Portable Appliance Testing)
List Content goes here
Tenants Electrical Advice: What electrical checks to do in a rented property
Any appliance provided by your landlord (fridge, freezer, washing machine etc) should have a PAT test certificate (the sticker not he right) detailing that it is safe to use. It is not a legal requirement for landlords to have electrical goods PAT tested but it is recommended by the Electrical Safety Council.
Walk around the property and check that all of the light switches, wall sockets and light fittings are working and in good condition. If there is any cracking, damage mention this to your landlord as it should be fixed.
The fuse box should have whats celled RCD protection. An RCD is a device that prevents electric shocks and injuries caused by electric shocks. If you’re fuse box doesn’t look like the one pictured on the right then you should speak to your landlord about getting updated. It is his legal responsibility to do so, for more information for landlord take a look at this page.
Electrical items break, its completely normal in any house that over time things degrade and need replacing. If theres is something wrong in your home a phone call to the landlord is usually enough to get some one out to come and fix it. If for what ever reason your landlord is refusing to fix something then the best advice is to call you local authority. They can give you advice on what to do or even take legal action against a landlord.
I cannot stress enough unless you are qualified do not try and fix it yourself!
Although not legally binding Landlords are advised by The Electrical Safety Council to have an EICR report done every 5 years or for every new tenancy. You should also ensure that an electrical work done on the property should meet UK BS7671 standards.
Designed by www.electricalsafetyfirst.org the app is really simple to use and it highlights potential dangers in each room and explains how to fix simple, non technical problems. Anything more difficult shouldn’t be dealt with by a registered electrician.
Thanks for reading Tenants Electrical Advice if you have any questions feel free to get in touch. Or take a look as some of our other blog posts – i cover a new topic every month trying to offer useful advice in electrical issues.
Our Partners
