Being a landlord carries a responsibility towards your tenants, and the NICEIC have issued a series of guidelines to help landlords meet their obligations. According to the NICEIC, all landlords should:
1) Get a full electrical inspection and test every five years or at change of occupancy
2) Carry out a visual check of the electrics every six months
3) Use an NICEIC electrician to carry out electrical work
4) Check for worn or frayed wires and cables
5) Check for signs of blackness or scorching around a socket, which could indicate overloading
6) Check for broken electrical accessories, such as sockets and light switches
7) Check regularly for a smell of hot plastic or burning near a socket
8) Check for signs of sparks or smoke coming from a plug or appliance
9) Use an RCD (Residual Current Device) for added protection against electric shock
10) Test that the RCD is working every three months
11) Test the smoke alarms every week
12) Avoid overloading plug sockets
As Mark Smith, owner of MS Electrical Services, points out, it’s critical for any landlord to keep on top of their responsibilities for the sake of their tenants and their future income. “We’ve been helping landlords with fixed wire testing and PAT testing in Cambridge for many years,” says Mark. “We’ve seen many examples of bad practice, but thankfully as an NICEIC-registered electrical safety provider we’ve been able to provide specialist help and guidance to ensure compliance. We’d encourage any current or prospective landlords who are concerned about electrical safety to contact us to arrange an electrical inspection – put bluntly, it could be the difference between life and death.”
Don't delay – contact MS Electrical Services today to arrange an appointment to discuss your fixed wire testing and PAT testing.
