Posts with tag: electrical safety

Scottish landlords warned on electrical check deadline

Published On: November 6, 2015 at 12:45 pm

Author:

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: ,,,

The Trade Body for Scotland’s electrical sector has moved to remind landlords and agents about upcoming legislation changes.

Select has issued a warning that from December 1st, landlords and agents must conduct five-yearly electrical checks of all fixed wiring and appliances in all properties to let.

Safety

Electrical safety has been thrown back into the limelight in Scotland with Government statistics showing 69% of all accidental fires in Scottish homes are caused be electrical faults.

Scottish landlords warned on electrical check deadline

Scottish landlords warned on electrical check deadline

The recently amended Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 includes statutory guidelines on electrical installations and appliances in privately rented property. This is to ensure that all rented properties meet the, ‘Repairing Standard,’ throughout the duration of all tenancies.

This includes a specific requirement for landlords or letting agents to make sure that the installations in the property for the supply of electricity, electrical fixtures and fittings and all other electrical equipment are in a fit and proper working order.

Student Tenants at Risk of Electrical Hazards

Published On: August 6, 2015 at 9:43 am

Author:

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: ,,,

Landlords and letting agents that manage student accommodation are putting tenants’ lives at risk by not fixing serious electrical hazards.

Electrical Safety First, a charity that has compiled a report on the matter, says that a high number of landlords and agents ignore safety issues that are reported to them, leaving student tenants exposed to the possibility of electric shock fires or electrocution.

Student Tenants at Risk of Electrical Hazards

Student Tenants at Risk of Electrical Hazards

The charity commissioned research, which revealed that 37% of agents and landlords did not fix exposed wiring when it was reported, 35% failed to sort out damp, condensation or flooding around the electrics, and 30% ignored issues with scorching around sockets and light fittings when they were reported.

Other electrical hazards that were not fixed when reported include: continuous tripping of the fuse box (26%), broken sockets or light switches (24%), and broken, damaged or overheating appliances that were supplied with the property (23%).

Electrical Safety First’s Emma Apter, comments: “These figures are unacceptable. Students should not have to compromise on safety.”1

The study was conducted in June by the National Union of Students on behalf of the charity, with 1,161 student respondents.

Electrical Safety First is calling for compulsory electrical safety checks every five years in private rental accommodation and visual inspections between tenancies.

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) believes that the report highlights a lack of enforcement by local authorities.

David Smith, Policy Director at the RLA, states: “The dangers highlighted are already illegal.

“Rather than more regulations, the research again shows the importance of councils enforcing the wide range of powers they already have to tackle sub-standard accommodation.

“The sad reality is that many are too stretched to do so, leaving a minority of tenants vulnerable to sometimes unsafe accommodation.”1 

1 http://www.propertyindustryeye.com/agents-that-put-student-tenants-at-risk-by-not-fixing-hazards/

Student landlords leave tenants at huge risk

Published On: August 6, 2015 at 9:11 am

Author:

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: ,,

Concerning new research suggests that landlords and letting agents of student accommodation are consistently putting their tenants’ health and wellbeing at risk by neglecting electrical issues.

A report from Electrical Safety First has indicated that an alarming number of landlords put tenants’ lives at risk by not fixing serious safety hazards. The firm suggests that landlord negligence is leaving inhabitants open to electric shocks, fires and electrocution.

Dangers

Data from the report shows that 37% of landlords and letting agents did not fix exposed wiring once it was reported to them. 35% did not tend to damp issues, condensation or flooding near electrics, with 30% leaving issues around sockets and light fittings unfixed.[1]

Emma Apter, head of communications at Electrical Safety First, said, ‘these figures are unacceptable. Students should not have to compromise on safety, but these worrying figures suggest that poor landlord practice is putting lives at risk.’[1]

The research highlighted the case of Matthew, a student from Oxford, who shortly after moving into a rental property was alarmed to discover exposed wiring next to a wall socket in the bedroom. On reporting the issue, Matthew was disgusted to find that the letting agent was unwilling to take immediate action.

‘I couldn’t believe how negligent letting agents could be when it came to this kind of thing,’ he said. ‘It took me many conversations over several days to convince the agent to get it fixed.’[1]

Student landlords leave tenants at huge risk

Student landlords leave tenants at huge risk

Life-threatening

‘Cases like Matthew’s emphasise the unnecessary and dangerous situations that students are being exposed to by landlord and letting agent negligence,’ said Apter. ‘Nobody should have their life put at risk because a landlord refuses to make a repair.’[1]

She went on to suggest that there are, ‘cultural stereotypes surrounding student accommodation, but our message to students is this: you do not have to accept living in substandard or dangerous accommodation. Inform your landlord or letting agent straight away if any hazards arise and if they fail to act then your local authority is there to assist.’[1]

Shelly Asquith, National Union of Students welfare officer, said, ‘students should be able to focus on studying and enjoying their educational experience instead of worrying about whether turning on a light switch or plugging in a toaster could kill them.’[1]

‘This prioritising of profit over safety is just another example of how students across the country are being taken for a ride by greedy housing providers,’ she added.[1]

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2015/8/landlords-leave-students-at-risk

 

Landlord News Guide to Electrical Safety

Published On: April 21, 2015 at 12:09 pm

Author:

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: ,,

It is a landlord’s duty to ensure that the electrics in their rental property are safe. Failure to comply with the law in this area could have terrible consequences hence we produced a simple guide to electrical safety for you.

Statistics

Unsafe electrical installations cause about 30 deaths and almost 4,000 serious injuries every year. It has been found that most of these accidents could be avoided.

Rented properties are more likely to suffer electrical faults than owner-occupier homes, as they are more susceptible to wear and tear.

Inspections

Landlords must regularly inspect and record the condition of electrics in their rental property. If a tenant conducts their own electrical work without telling you, they could have made the electrics unsafe and non-compliant with electrical regulations, including Part P of the Building Regulations.

Part P

Part P of the Building Regulations was introduced for safety in the home. It was launched on 1st January 2005 in England and Wales in an attempt to reduce the amount of accidents caused by faulty electrical installations.

Under Part P, any electrical installation work conducted must be of the highest standard, meaning that tenants will be kept as safe as possible. The regulation means that the electrical contracting industry has been aligned with gas safety rules.

Landlords must comply with Part P. Failure to do so is a criminal offence and local authorities will be able to enforce the removal or modification of work that does not meet the requirements.

Part P covers all fixed installations in houses and flats. It is also expands to common access areas, shared amenities in flats and electrical installations on land associated with buildings.

A registered electrical contractor will be able to inform you if the work you need conducting falls within Part P.

Electrical appliances

Landlords should regularly review electrical appliances in their rental property. The Electrical Equipment (Safety) regulations 1994 specify that landlords ensure all appliances are safe to use when they are first supplied. If you provide items such as kettles, microwaves, dishwashers, you should check them frequently.

You should look out for:

  • Punctures or abrasions to cable coverings.
  • Cracked casing or bent pins.
  • Loose parts and screws.
  • Burn marks.
  • Looseness where the outer covering of a cable connects to the plug.

You may then have to carry out a formal inspection, in which you must remove the plug cover to check if:

  • The cord grip is securing the outer part of the cable firmly.
  • The wires are attached to the correct terminals.
  • There is bare wire visible anywhere other than at the terminals.
  • The terminal screws are tight.
  • There is sign of internal damage.

It may be a good idea not to use extension leads. If you do provide them, they should be tested as portable appliances.

A residual current device (RCD) should protect all socket outlets, where portable equipment may be used outdoors. A RCD will protect against electric shocks.

Tradespeople

If you employ an electrical contractor to conduct electrical installation work on your rental property, they must be registered with a Government-approved Part P scheme. If they are authorised, they will be able to self-certify their work. If not, you must contact Building Control before work begins.