Electrical
safety
There are a number of things that
you and your landlord should do to make sure that your home is
safe.
What are the minimum standards?
The electrical wiring, switches, sockets and all supplied
electrical equipment must be safe and in good working order.
The design, installation, inspection and testing of electrical
installations will be controlled under the building regulations.
All work must be carried out by persons who are competent to do the
work.
A competent electrician must be employed to carry out all
electrical work as faulty work can endanger life.
How do I know that the landlord is complying with the
regulations?
Electrical wiring - your landlord will know how
old the property's electrical wiring is and his approved
electrician's report will recommend how often the electrics should
be re-inspected. More recent wiring may require fewer
inspections.
Electrical equipment - If electrical equipment is supplied,
then it must be safe. This applies to both new and second-hand
appliances, and will cover items, such as lamps, televisions,
radios, irons, washing machines, microwave, refrigerator and other
kitchen equipment.
Landlord responsibilities:
-
Items should be examined before each new tenancy.
This could be part of the inventory process.
-
Records should be made of equipment at the property,
together with details of any examinations and when.
-
Each appliance should be checked at reasonable
intervals, bearing in mind the likely rate of usage of the
appliance e.g. six to-12 month intervals.
-
Ensure tenants know how to use all electrical
equipment safely. Written instructions can be given appropriate to
their safe use.
If there are any doubts about the safety of an item it should be
removed from use.
For further advice about electrical safety, contact the
National
Inspection Council for Electrical Contractors (NICEIC)
Technical help line: 0870 013 0391
What should I do if I discover a health and safety problem while
living here?
It's usually best to first approach your landlord
informally. If this does not work you can give the landlord notice
of the repairs needed.. It should be a letter to your landlord and
should state:
- That you are to give the landlord notice of
disrepair
- What the problem is and when you noticed it
- Any relevant section of the tenancy agreement
- What you want the landlord to do
- The date by which you want it completed (allow
reasonable time)
What if the landlord tries to evict me because of this?
There maybe a risk with private tenants that the
landlord will try to evict you or make life difficult instead of
doing repairs, this is an illegal eviction or harassment and are
criminal offences. Consider this before taking any action; it's
always a good idea to get professional advice before giving your
landlord notice of disrepair.
Ensure you have:
-
A place to stay in an emergency
-
Professional advice - Contact your local service
centre, or the council's Private Sector Housing Group on 020 8430
2000 before taking any action
For more information: