04/04/2021
LANDLORDS AND HOMEOWNERS TAKE NOTE. The government have introduced new legislation that requires all rental properties to have a full electrical safety inspection and certificate produced every 5 years or on change of tenancy. The deadline was 1st April 2021. If you have not commissioned an inspection already you must book one now to ensure you are not breaking the law.
So what is an electrical safety inspection? When carried out properly you will receive three sections in a report. A certificate stating if the property is satisfactory or not. A schedule of inspections undertaken listing any concerns using codes C1 (immediate risk of injury), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (recommended improvement) or FI (Further investigation needed) or a tick (acceptable/pass). The property must not have any C1, C2 or FI to secure a pass. The final section is a schedule of results. Each circuit should have been tested and the data recorded in a table.
As a qualified instructor, I teach electricians how to undertake these sorts of inspections so I am fully aware of the time required to undertake a proper inspection. A three bedroom house should take an electrician and co worker half a day to inspect. Costs should reasonably be expected to be between £150 to £200 in this area. If you are being offered them cheaper than this take note, the electrician is likely not doing a full check. If you took your car for an MOT and the mechanic simply kicked the tyres and wrote a pass would you be happy? Alternatively, some electricians come in cheap for an inspection and then charge extortionate prices for remedial work, often for things that are actually not needed.
In the past few months I have undertaken dozens of tests. Here is a list of things i have found and the problems they might have caused.
No earthing to the property at all, (risk of electrocution and fire).
Earthing connected to live terminals at a light causing 230V shocks to tenant at light switch. .
Damaged fittings with live parts exposed (risk of shock to children).
Loose connections with thermal damage to fittings (Risk of fire)
Loose terminations at the fuseboard (risk of fire)
Ancient wiring and fuseboards (offering very little protection from shock or fire in many cases)
Seized RCDs and switches - offering no protection.
Given that our work has been entirely focused on rentals, it makes me wonder how many privately owned homes would have similar problems. As home owners we tend to have our gas boilers checked regularly recognising the dangers associated with defective poorly maintained gas equipment, but many people do not have the same level of respect for electrical systems.
If you wish to be reassured contact us for an inspection. A full report will guide you and allow you to plan for any future remedial or modernisation work. Remember that electricity kills. At our training centre we have been closely following the very sad news in the attached article highlighting the need to maintain electrical systems and use competent installers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-55753100. Monty Electrics provides free advice and quotes. We are also happy to provide you with references. Speak with some of our customers who have had to deal with nightmare electrical installations that we have made safe.
Harvey Tyrrell was electrocuted after climbing over a wall at the King Harold Pub in Romford.
