Whether we’ve just bought our first house, moved up the property ladder or decided to sell up and relocate, our home is an integral part of our lives and, usually, it’s our largest investment. And this also applies equally to first-time or experienced landlords.
Whatever our circumstances, we all have a duty of care – and in the case of landlords a legal obligation – to keep our electrical safety in check. It’s important, of course, to keep everything visible within the property looking pristine and neat, but if your fixed wiring isn’t safe the consequences can be very serious indeed.
Your fixed wire installation encompasses your switches, your sockets and your fuse boxes (or consumer units), but why is it important to have them checked?
Fire safety
Without exaggeration, your electrical installations carry with them a risk of injury and death. According to government statistics, electrical installations are the cause of in the region of 20,000 domestic fires across the UK every single year, and a fixed wire test will reduce the risk of one of these occurring in your property. There are several issues which can be the root cause of an electrical fire, including wear and tear and outdated wiring, all of which can be detected with a fixed wire test.
Selling and buying
If you’re looking to sell your home, providing proof that you’ve commissioned a recent fixed wire test will give your purchaser peace of mind. It should also reassure their solicitors that you have everything in order, and in return will most likely speed up the conveyancing process. If, on the other hand, you’re looking to buy the house, a valid fixed wire test will give a strong indication of the vendor’s approach to maintaining their home. It could also save you finding any hidden surprises and potential costs if a fixed wire test is completed before you exchange contracts. Any issues found during the check can be addressed with the current owner, and a possible reduction in asking price if costs to repair run into the thousands of pounds. For homeowners, fixed wire testing isn’t mandatory but it’s definitely advisable and any electrical installations need to be deemed ‘Satisfactory’ as an absolute minimum.
Renting
If you’re a landlord looking to rent out your property, there’s a legal obligation to keep your fixed wire testing up-to-date and to provide your tenant(s) with a valid certificate. Failing to meet your legal obligations could result in a gap in occupation, and when your rental property remains unoccupied that will inevitably cost you money. Not only that, it could also lead to prosecution, so you must commission a fixed wire test every five years.
Insurance
Your home insurance policy is likely to require a satisfactory EICR or landlord’s certificate for your property to be fully covered, and as such you may see that regular fixed wire testing is actually a mandatory requirement of your policy agreement. As mentioned above, in most cases, ‘Satisfactory’ is the minimum requirement, and keeping your fixed wire testing current will reduce the need for expensive remedial work or an expensive upgrade at a later date.
Cost efficiencies
As in all walks of life it can be tempting to try to save money in areas such as electrical safety but in reality this can prove to be a false economy. In reality, having your fixed wire testing carried out regularly by a competent electrician and thereby remaining compliant will save you money in the long run. You’ll also be able to identify issues and have them rectified before they worsen and become more expensive to address.
MS Electrical offers fixed wire testing in Cambridge. Please call us on 01223 850301 or complete our enquiry form to request a no-obligation quotation.