New guidance has been launched on how to conduct thorough electrical safety checks on private rentals, and how to report any defects found.
Best Practice Guide 10: Electrical safety standards in the private rented sector, published by charity Electrical Safety First, is aimed at electricians, landlords, letting agents and tenants in understanding what inspection and testing is required and how to produce a detailed report.
Although it is now mandatory for landlords to carry out electrical installation condition reporting at least every five years, the charity claims consistency of reporting varies hugely. This can be confusing for those reading the report and can lead to safety risks being reported incorrectly or ignored.
David Powell, electrical installation safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, says a key problem is that an EICR could cover lots of areas, so it is vital to establish and agree with the landlord or person ordering the work what’s to be included and what isn’t included in the electrical safety check.
This new guide is the first of its kind to address this problem.
Powell says: “It is setting a bar about what is the minimum standard to expect, and what should be inspected and tested. It also sets out how to record findings clearly in the extent and limitations section of an EICR and elsewhere in the report.
“Many organisations have collaborated and agreed on this guidance, and it has also had input from several industry bodies, government departments and letting agents.”
For electricians, the guide helps them better understand what is expected of them, how to define the extent and limitations, and how to report properly.
For landlords and tenants, it explains what an EICR is, what to expect from an electrician, questions to ask, and how to prepare for a check.
The new guidance is the latest in a series of 10 best practice guides offering free expert advice and information on technical issues involved in electrical installation work.
Produced by Electrical Safety First in association with industry bodies, the downloadable guides can be found here: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/professional-resources/best-practice-guides/
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For Goodness Sake not another Charity.
Landlords are probably the only real Charity and not yet recognised for the years of Charity work we devoted.
Must be one of the more pointless charities.
The provided information pertains to a newly launched guidance document called "Best Practice Guide 10: Electrical safety standards in the private rented sector."
This guide aims to ensure clarity and consistency in reporting electrical safety checks for private rentals.
It covers various aspects such as required inspection and testing, producing detailed reports, defining the extent and limitations of electrical safety checks, and providing information for landlords, tenants, and electricians on what to expect during the check.
The guide is part of a series of best practice guides produced by charity Electrical Safety First and industry bodies.
**Breakdown:**
1. Introduction: The document is titled "Best Practice Guide 10: Electrical safety standards in the private rented sector."
2. Purpose: The guide aims to provide clarity and consistency in reporting electrical safety checks.
3. Inspection and Testing: It covers the requirements for inspection and testing procedures.
4. Detailed Reports: The guide provides instructions on how to produce comprehensive and detailed reports.
5. Scope and Limitations: It offers guidance on defining the extent and limitations of electrical safety checks.
6. Target Audience: The guide is designed to cater to the needs of landlords, tenants, and electricians.
7. Expectations: It outlines what landlords, tenants, and electricians should expect during the electrical safety check.
8. Preparation: The guide provides information on how to prepare for an electrical safety check.
9. Series of Guides: It is part of a series of best practice guides created by the charity Electrical Safety First and industry bodies.
10. Overall Objective: The guide aims to ensure thorough electrical safety checks in private rentals and facilitate the reporting of any identified defects.
Shouldn't this be aimed at electricians? If I pay a qualified electrician for an EICR I expect them to know what to check. I don't expect to have to become a qualified electrician myself!
Unfortunately the responsibility still lies with the landlord to ensure tradespeople’s work is to the correct standards.
A Tricia- blummin well said!! We r Landlords not sparkles!
Are there any statistics on how many tenants are actually injured by electrical faults in the installations? Or is this just another unnecessary set of regulations and, in this case, uncalled-for advice?
I don't know - perhaps there is a real need for this?
Have a look at HHSRS operating guidance which shows the risks and harm outcomes.
I suspect the only ones injured are injured by their own foolishness
We don't need an electrical safety certificate in our own house. We have never had any issues. If an electrician passes my rental properties every 5 years that's good enough for me.
Good enough for me also, I use an excellent electrician who I have every faith in, problems only arise when some tenants start fidling with things themselves
More red tape , great !
Just read it. No different to what's already in place. Nothing to see here...move along....
ESF has been around for years. Problem with EICR reports is that “electricians” vary. Some have done a short course of a few weeks with an Megga tester and can issue a legally acceptable certificate. Others have done proper college courses and actually understand what they are talking about. I know which I prefer to give me the legal indemnity.
The real problem in the uk is that it has a large working class population with no qualifications. So they bring in short specific courses to get these people into employment. Quality of their standard is low and we have to go with whatever they deem right. One day they are the losers at school and the next they are BT engineer, gas safe engineer and so on. It really is an insult to the word engineer.
I think this article was taken from an "Electricians News Article," pointless putting it on here.
If I have gone to the expense of paying an electrician to do the EICR test then I think that should be more than enough. I think problems are more likely to arise where tenant has tampered with the installation, as they do, last year one had disconnected the wired smoke alarms.
Exactly right there we have little control over what some tenants get upto in the property and removing smoke alarms often happens
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