| "Electricity is an essential part of modern day living | | | | and not dangerous. This is to minimise the risk of |
| and dramatically enhances living standards. It does | | | | injury, death or of damage to property." |
| however have the potential to be lethal, cause | | | | The brochure declares that at present there are |
| injury or damage property if it is not correctly | | | | no specific statutory requirements placed upon a |
| maintained," says John Davidson, managing | | | | landlord to prove that such items are regularly |
| director of gas-elec. | | | | checked or tested by a qualified electrical |
| "The accidental death of a young mother of two | | | | engineer. ARLA strongly recommends to landlords |
| who was electrocuted in her rented cottage in | | | | that appropriate ongoing checks of such |
| Cornwall has reiterated the necessity for landlords | | | | equipment should be scheduled and kept up to |
| to ensure that electrical inspections are carried out | | | | date. |
| regularly on rented properties," says John | | | | "While this may be true from a legal standpoint, |
| Davidson, Managing Director of gas-elec. | | | | there are a number of laws in place to regulate |
| "Over and above the need for all electrical | | | | the industry," adds John. |
| installations and wirings to be up to current | | | | For example, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 |
| standards, it goes without saying that any | | | | states that it is the responsibility of the landlord to |
| electrical equipment provided by a landlord must | | | | ensure that any portable electrical appliance |
| also be deemed safe by a competent person on | | | | supplied is safe. This includes the consumer unit, |
| a regular basis," adds John. | | | | fixed wiring, sockets, light fittings and switches. |
| The Association of Residential Letting Agents | | | | "Furthermore, all work that involves adding a new |
| (ARLA) and the National Association of Estate | | | | circuit in bathrooms and kitchens will need to be |
| Agents (NAEA) – both members of the | | | | either notified to Building Control with a Building |
| National Federation of Property Professionals | | | | Regulations application, or carried out by a |
| (NFOPP) – have also issued statements and | | | | competent person who is registered with a Part P |
| guidelines on the matter of electrical safety | | | | Self-Certification Scheme," concludes John. |
| guidelines for landlords. | | | | A number of regulations are also in place to |
| As stated in the ARLA's ‘Let's Make it Safe' | | | | protect the tenant, including the Electrical |
| brochure, "the basic concept is that a landlord has | | | | Equipment (Safety) Regulation 1995, Housing |
| an obligation to ensure that any such items | | | | Health & Safety Rating System (England) |
| supplied as part of a property letting are safe, | | | | Act 2004 and Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. |