I’m often asked what is the importance of electrical testing and what benefits is provides to the homeowner. In short, an electrical safety document will give you peace of mind that your electrical installations, wiring and fuses are safe.
If you are a landlord in Darlington, you have a legal obligation to ensure that you hold an up-to-date EICR or Electrical Inspection Condition Report for your tenanted property which must be renewed every 5 years.
As a private homeowner there is no legal requirement to have electrical testing carried out, although it certainly does minimise the risks associated with faulty electrics as the majority of electrical testing will detect a fault early enough for remedial action to be carried out.
Electrical faults are responsible for over 10% of house fires in the UK. As with many things an electrical installation will naturally depreciate over time which can lead to faults developing which is why we would recommend even private homeowners have an EICR carried out at least every 10 years.
Electrical safety checks will
- Determine any potential safety risks in the property’s permanent installations (lights, sockets, fixtures, electric storage boiler etc.).
- Identify any poor electrical work that is either hazardous or potentially hazardous.
- Make sure that no electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded.
- Ensure that earthing and bonding have been carried out properly, and that there is sufficient resistance to trip the circuit breakers in the event of a surge.
The most common electrical certification is an EICR or Electrical Inspection Condition Report. This covers testing of “Fixed” electrical appliances in your property including:
- Light fittings
- Plug sockets
- Internal and external wiring
- Fuse boxes
- Any other electrical equipment that is permanently connected, including power showers, storage heaters and hot water tanks and extractor fans
Private landlords must comply with legislation that came into place from 1st April 2021 which requires landlords to get regular electrical safety inspections carried out by a registered qualified electrician every 5 years. The local authority has the right to request sight of current certification and a copy must also be provided to the current tenant. Failure to maintain regular checks and or provide documentation to the local authority can result in large financial penalties for the landlord.
Other electrical safety testing can include PAT testing (Portable Applicance Testing) of portable appliances in rental properties such as fridges, ovens and washing machines. Whilst this is not essential as there is no law that states this must be done if these are supplied as part of a tenancy it’s a good idea for regular testing to be carried out to ensure portable devices are compliant with UK electrical safety standards.
New electrical installations such as power outlets, new showers of extractor fans will also need an electrical installation certificate. A new electrical installations must meet the standards set out in the 18th edition of the wiring regulations that state that new installations should be safe for continued use.
The best way to find a registered electrician is to search the registered competent persons database which will enables you to ensure your chosen electrician is properly qualified. An electrician appearing on database will
- Be BS7671 safety standard
- Be regulated by the UK government
- Legally be able to carry out all kinds of electrical work
- Have their work and skills are assessed regularly
- Are insured to carry out work on your property giving you the protection you need.
Demand Electrical solutions are proud promotors of electrical safety in Darlington and offer a range of testing services to suit landlords and private homeowners with their electrical safety needs, feel free to call us to discuss your requirements.
