At some stage of our life we will have lived in rented accommodation, possibly as a student or while saving for that required deposit to get on the housing ladder. At some point we have also used the services of an electrician or other related trades people.
There are approximately 7.8 million homes in the UK that are rented, 840,000 of which are houses in multiple occupation or HMOs, which are properties let to three or more tenants who form two or more households. Often vulnerable groups in society make up the group known as HMOs.
Using an electrician to maintain such property is often overlooked by Landlords, which can put can put householders in HMOs at risk. Properties should be maintained by responsible landlords and the tenant. While there is some legal confusion over the requirements for electrical work in letted premises, electricians should be employed to provide electrical certification for work so that the landlord is fully covered from an insurance point of view.
It is important to raise awareness amongst the landlord audience of their legal responsibilities for electrical safety, but more so offer guidance for how the obligations can be met. A periodic inspection report of the premises should be completed by an approved electrical contractor or electrician and portable appliance testing should be done in the premises too.
Electrical certification should be carried out by an NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installers) electrician. The most important electrical certificates are:
Periodic Inspection Report
Depending on the property whether domestic or commercial, it is advisable to have a full electrical inspection carried out at suitable intervals by an approved electrician or electrical, contractor (details on inspection periods can be obtained from the NICEIC). The electrical wiring is examined throughout the property and extensively checks the safety of the electrical installation. The cost of the inspection varies depending on the size of the installation and the electrician will provide a Periodic Inspection Report for the work completed. If there is any electrical installation safety issues the electrician will provide the landlord with information on the improvements that need to be made.
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
You should instruct an electrician to complete PAT testing on all portable electrical appliances in the property once a year. Any electrical appliances that are supplied within the property that can be plugged into the mains electricity (for example TV, Kettle, microwaves, electric heaters, etc.) are defined as portable electrical appliances. PAT is to done every year by an electrician to ensure that all portal electrical items provided with the property are electrically safe. PAT testing can vary in cost depending on the number of items that are present in the house.
Landlords are not the only stakeholders involved. Low income workers, migrant workers Students, and young people make up a large proportion of the tenants in multiple occupancy housing, where an electrician is required for electrical testing.
Tenants should be knowledgeable about their rights with regards to the electrical safety of their home and know how to identify electrical problems. Tenants should understand their obligations for the safe use of the electrical installations and appliances in the home. Advice for such matters can obtained from electricians themselves or by making contact with the Electrical Safety Council.
Organisations need to be communicated with electrical safety knowledge. Local authorities, the National Union of Students, universities, and migrant community groups around the UK should be contacted to gather information about safety in rented accommodation. Electricians and safety organisations play a vital role in communicating this to tenants, as well as delivering safety messages through important media groups.
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