Electric boiler not checked for 18+ months, is this breaking the law?

m_k_dons

Hi,

I found our electric water tank safety check certificate the other day in our rented flat. It has not been checked for over 18 months.

Are our landlords or management company (Countrywide Residential Lettings Bristol) breaking the law and if so what should/can I do?

Thanks.

Planner

No. There is no requirement to check electrical applicances annually (only gas). However it would be a silly landlord/agent that didnt check at least every two years (if not annually). If you are worried about it, then contact the agents to see if they will get someone out to check it, although they are under no obligation to do so.

m_k_dons

Ok, thank you for that. Very helpful.

I agree that it seems a bit silly not to check these things. A month ago somebody on the floor above had their boiler/pipes malfunction and turned their flat into a swimming pool and the corridor/flats below into walk through showers.

adr0ck

m_k_dons wrote: »

Ok, thank you for that. Very helpful.

I agree that it seems a bit silly not to check these things. A month ago somebody on the floor above had their boiler/pipes malfunction and turned their flat into a swimming pool and the corridor/flats below into walk through showers.

why?

how often do you get your TV, Computer, Kettle etc PAT tested?

every 12 months?

Planner

adr0ck wrote: »

why?

how often do you get your TV, Computer, Kettle PAT tested?

every 12 months?

Because if your own personal kettle electricutes you then tough luck. If the landlords boiler electricutes you and there has been no recent check, then a compensation claim is going to promptly follow and its going to be the landlords tough luck.

adr0ck

Planner wrote: »

Because if your own personal kettle electricutes you then tough luck. If the landlords boiler electricutes you and there has been no recent check, then a compensation claim is going to promptly follow and its going to be the landlords tough luck.

how is an electric water tank going to electrocute you unless your messing with it?

and why would anyone be messing with it?

Planner

If you want to be pedantic about the boiler, then you can insert any other electrical appliance that the landlord supplys into that sentenace, or the plug sockets, or the light switches.....

adr0ck

Planner wrote: »

If you want to be pedantic about the boiler, then you can insert any other electrical appliance that the landlord supplys into that sentenace, or the plug sockets, or the light switches.....

sorry why would a landlord check all the plug sockets, light switches etc?

Planner

adr0ck wrote: »

sorry why would a landlord check all the plug sockets, light switches etc?

Have you read this thread?

As stated, while it is not a statutory requirement to check the electrical systems and applicances of a rented property, if a tenant is subsequently electricuted and it is shown to be the landlords fault, then the landlord is going to be hit with a claim.

As we are being pedantic, I doubt it would be the landlord that would do the actual testing.

adr0ck

Planner wrote: »

Have you read this thread?

As stated, while it is not a statutory requirement to check the electrical systems and applicances of a rented property, if a tenant is subsequently electricuted and it is shown to be the landlords fault, then the landlord is going to be hit with a claim.

As we are being pedantic, I doubt it would be the landlord that would do the actual testing.

yes but the only way anyone would get electrocuted by an electric water tank was if they were messing with the electric water tank

why would anyone be messing with an electric water tank?

poppysarah

adr0ck wrote: »

sorry why would a landlord check all the plug sockets, light switches etc?

Just for their own peace of mind and to avoid H&S blaming them for deaths.