In the last few years it appears that many more people are becoming landlords. This has sparked ESC to produce guidance recommendations on how these people can meet their legal requirements.
In fact, since 2007 the increase in landlords has been vast with a jump of 42%. Landlords now account for 19% of property ownership in the UK.
It has been speculated that this increase is due to people renting properties rather than selling in the current climate and this is leading to a whole host of inexperienced landlords.
Research on the subject revealed that there is a degree of confusion as to who is responsible for what between tenants and landlords. Figures from this research revealed that 21% of tenants were concerned about electrical safety in their rented properties and 29% of landlords had no idea what they were legally responsible for.
ESC has campaigned on the subject to encourage landlords to gain a better understanding of their responsibility and the consequences of failing to keep up with their legal responsibilities. This message, it seems, is not getting through to as many landlords as ESC hoped as research also revealed that a whopping 38% of landlords thought there wouldn’t be any penalty charges for failing to keep up with these obligations to electrical safety.
Landlords really need to step up where electrical safety is concerned and learn about periodic inspection and testing requirements and their PAT testing responsibilities.
To encourage landlords to take electrical safety seriously and use electrical contractors to carry out safety checks for them, give them the following safety tips:
- Ensure that electrics are safe at the beginning of a new tenancy
- Ensure that regular periodic inspections are carried out
- Consider your RCD protection and if it’s up to standard
- Always use a registered electrician or electrical installer
- Have PAT tests carried out on appliances as necessary
Written by Sara Thomson
