ELECTRICAL SAFETY REGULATIONS
In recent years, new regulations have been introduced
to improve safety in rented residential accommodation.
All landlords who own property which is let need to
be aware of the implications of the legislation. This
sheet is designed to give a summary of regulations which
currently exist relating to electrical appliances and
their impact on both private and commercial landlords.
Electrical safety
The electrical
safety regulations require that any electrical appliances
supplied must be safe. Where their safe use requires,
appropriate instruction booklets must also be provided.
Unlike the gas
safety regulations, there is no statutory annual testing
interval. Yet, in order to meet the requirements, it
is still important that the appropriate checks and safeguards
are carried out.
The regulations
require:
- GENERAL SAFETY.
All electrical equipment supplied must be safe. This
will require that the electrical appliances, including
their leads, are checked by a competent and suitably
qualified engineer. Unsafe items should be removed.
- LABELING.
All electrical equipment that is manufactured after
the 1st January 1997 must be marked with the appropriate
CE symbol.
- INSTRUCTIONS.
It is recommended that the manufacturer's instructions
be provided wherever possible for each appliance that
is supplied. This will help to ensure that the tenant
uses the equipment safely.
Why
is it important ?
The maximum penalty
for non-compliance with the regulations is a fine of
£5,000 and/or six months imprisonment.
Electrical
safety testing
It is important
that both the fixed electrical installation (i.e. the
mains wiring) and any supplied appliances and other
equipment are safe. Both are easily tested by a qualified
engineer.
- APPLIANCES.
It is recommended that electrical appliances are tested
prior to the initial letting of a properly and annually
thereafter. If an individual appliance is used particularly
frequently or in a harsh environment (e.g. wet conditions)
then more frequent testing may be required.
- FIXED INSTALLATIONS.
It is also important that the fixed wiring circuits
are checked for safety. The Institute of Electrical
Engineers (IEE) recommends that this is carried out
at least every ten years in a domestic environment.
- RECORDS. You
should keep a record of all appliances tested and
checks carried out.
You can also
carry out your own simple checks. There are some important
points you should watch for :
- LEADS. Watch
out for frayed or worn leads. These may be dangerous
and should be replaced immediately by a competent
person.
- PLUGS. By
law, electrical appliances must not be supplied without
a correctly fused plug fitted to it.
Appliances
covered by Regulations
The regulations
cover all mains voltage electrical goods designed with
a working voltage of between 50 and 1000 volts a.c.
including:
- cookers
- kettles
- toasters
- electric blankets
- washing machines
- immersion
heaters
General
product safety
For all rented
property, there is a statutory right that the landlord
maintain the structure and main services serving the
property in good repair and that it shall be fit for
human habitation. There are also general product safety
regulations that require the property and items in the
property to be safe.
The product safety
regulations state that any item supplied to a consumer
in the course of a commercial activity must be safe
and this is deemed to include the supply of rented property.
The following
checks and precautions should be observed:
ACORN
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Only
use selected electrical engineers who hold I.E.E. or
C.I.T.B. qualifications. We can arrange for your property
to be given a full electrical safety check prior to
letting.
As the electrical
installations vary from property to property please
contact our office to arrange a quotation. |
