26th
Jul 2013
The Government’s Select Committee of the CLG (Communities and Local Government) is putting forward a recommendation that in future, all private sector landlords must undertake a mandatory check of the electrical installations in their properties every five years.
The proposal is explained in the newly released report from the CLG Select Committee regarding the private rented sector throughout England.
The report says that the government must act to introduce a structure for landlords to use a competent person to properly check electrical installations every five years. If the tenancy changes hands then a visual check must take place. The report also says that if the government wants to achieve this, then they must liaise with the electrical industry to introduce proper certification.
The Electrical Safety Council Director General Paul Buckle says: “We are delighted that the committee has made this recommendation. We have, for some time now, been lobbying hard for such mandatory regulation in the PRS. (Private Rented Sector)
-
“The government’s own data shows that 21 per cent of England’s PRS contains category 1 hazards – the most dangerous risk to health and safety under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System.
-
“Independent research suggests that PRS tenants are more likely to be at risk of electric shock than owner-occupiers, or those in social housing. Government statistics also show that over half of all accidental fires in GB homes (more than 20,000 annually) are caused by electricity.
-
“With the PRS expanding significantly over the past decade – now comprising over 16.5 per cent of all households and growing – it is essential that electrical safety in the sector is properly regulated.”
-
The ESC has also identified other major changes which may improve living conditions for PRS tenants and help landlords to act in best practice.
The Landlords and Tenants Act 1985 requires that the electrical installation in a rented property is: safe when a tenancy begins and maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy. see (
Landlords’ Guide to Electrical Safety )
Other releated information on PIMS.co.uk |
News Archive »