The RENTERS REFORM BILL will revoke your mandatory right to claim possession of your property. This means problem Tenants will be afforded greater protection PIMS NEW GUIDE court application for a Section 21 your mandatory right as is now

Christmas Lights: The Fun and the Risks

Posted : 17/12/2015 | By Alice Mahalia

Christmas lights are a lot of fun at this time of year, and many tenants and landlords alike will look to light up their homes to celebrate the season. Certain risks are well known, such as fire safety, wiring and increased electric bills, but for some, being extravagent or competitive can escalate some house lights to the extreme, which carry more risk and safety hazards.

The Risks of Christmas Lights

 Everyone loves Christmas lights; however lights and other holiday decoration present many ‘opportunities’ for landlords to be exposed to some serious liability:-

1. Generally people who put up exterior lights just check to see if they are working, they rarely replace them otherwise. Given that they are only used once a year, this presents a possibility for many electrical faults to develop. Faulty electricals and overloaded extension leads are the leading cause for house fires. It is therefore advisable that exterior lights are yearly PAT tested to ensure that they are safe for use.

2. There are many people that are injured from roof falls and shocks every year when they go onto the roof of the property to decorate. Walking on the roof in cold conditions can damage the shingles on the roof. Any damage would be the responsibility of the landlord to repair.

For these reasons, it is understandable why Landlords choose not to allow tenants to have exterior lighting – And if this is the case a clause could be entered into the Tenancy Agreement to this effect. However, this should be made clear to the tenant at the outset to avoid later difficulties.

If you do allow tenants to use exterior Christmas lights, then you should ensure that you advise the tenants that any extension cords must be certified for exterior use and they need to be plugged into GFCL protected outlets. If this is not the case then any insurance will be void. It may also be advisable to add a clause into the Tenancy Agreement that any exterior lights must have up to date PAT test certificates.