A new report into electrical safety in the private rented sector has revealed that dangerous electrical wiring places the lives of private renters at risk.
The ‘Home Improvement: Tackling Poor Electrical Safety in the Private Rented Sector’ report by Electrical Safety First and Shelter, shows that homes in the private rented sector are worse than in any other sector for electrical faults.
Private tenants electrical faults
The report notes that current regulations are not fit for purpose, due to the lack of legal requirement for landlords to check the electrics are safe before renting a property, or to check wiring on any electrical appliances in the property.
Electrical Safety First and Shelter conclude that mandatory five-yearly checks should be introduced.
Commenting on this suggestions, Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First said: “This change in law would be very easy to implement as the primary legislation already exists and our research shows that the majority of MPs would support a change in law.
“Electrical inspections by a competent person can cost as little as £100, which is less than £2 a month or 6p a day over a five year period.”
Luke Czerpak, Contracts Manager at Eaton Electrical comments: “Eaton Electrical fully support this recommendation – we see the damage caused by even the most minor of electrical faults, and believe that a mandatory 5 year check is enough to prevent serious risk to private renters.”
