Is it a legal requirement to get a electrical safety cert on rented property

suestew

I am reading conflicting info, or should you get one done for peace of mind? is every 5 years sufficient?

Thanks

Werdnal

It is not currently a legal requirement, but the LL must ensure electrical installation is safe to use. How would you know this unless you have a check done?

Worth it if you think the worst case scenario for not doing so is a dead tenant and a manslaughter charge!

Similarly, PAT testing of any portable electrical appliances you provide in the property is not compulsory, but advisable.

suestew

true, worth getting one done then. Anyone know the cost if these on average? do they last 5 years?

G_M

suestew wrote: »

true, worth getting one done then. Anyone know the cost if these on average? do they last 5 years?

£60?

Depends what you mean by 'last'! They 'last' less than 24 hours. All they say is that on the day of testing the electics were safe.

An electrical fault could develop in that time.

They 'advise' a date for re-testing.

More here:
http://www.esc.org.uk/public/guides-and-advice/faqs/

phill99

A PIR (periodic inspection and review) will cost between £100 and £150.

suestew

thanks all

as with a gas safety the person needs to be corgi approved, what should the electrician be?

anselld

It is gassafe now not corgi.

Main electrical body is NICEIC but there are a couple of other competent body schemes also.

Werdnal

I have seen suggested prices for PIR's anything between £100 and £250. It depends on the size of the property, number of circuits within it and the ease of checking them. Modern, recently wired properties are a lot easier to check than older, outdated installations.

Bear in mind if the electrician finds any faults or issues, you will have to cost of putting them right too. I had an issue when my property was last checked that one of the sockets was a non-switched type, and the guy replaced it there and then with a switched one for just the cost of parts.

As mentioned above, its like an MOT test and only valid on the day it is done. You could drive your car away from the test station and a headlight blows, so car is no longer strictly roadworthy even though you have a brand new MOT issued that day. Electrical test will mitigate any blame on you for injury to the tenant should anything fail, and showing a pro-active approach to getting a test would help should there ever be a problem.

propertyman

I must correct what has been posted, it is a legal obligation.

The premises must be safe to be used and the landlord must assess manage and audit those risks, by law.

Electrical tests on the installation and appliances therefore are a legal requirement,

but how often when and by whom

depends on the installation the property and the users, and the competence of the landlord.

Identical houses next door but with different installations could lead to different strategies, an older system that is "maxed out" and occupied by 4 sharers will need a different approach to next door with a couple and a rewired house and new appliances.

A simple visual check of appliances and external cabling by a landlord is often sufficient to spot issues eg a knotty iron cable or a nick in an extension lead, or over loading.

Initial tests will act as a guide as to what to do and if 5 years is long enough or not, or PATs adviseable.

Werdnal

It is a legal requirement to provide a safe electrical installation BUT where does it state it is a legal requirement to have a regular formal test/certificate?

I stand corrected if you can quote the relevant acts and/or legislation.

propertyman

Werdnal wrote: »

It is a legal requirement to provide a safe electrical installation BUT where does it state it is a legal requirement to have a regular formal test/certificate?

You haven't read my post, only reacted....:o

Electrical tests on the installation and appliances therefore are a legal requirement,

but how often when and by whom

depends on the installation the property and the users, and the competence of the landlord.