full electrical safety check

marc3

No doubt this is coverd many times elsewhere-but can't find it .
so simple question:

i write as a responsible landlord but forget whether a full electrical wiring/safety check (not a simple pat test) on a rented property needs to be done every 3 or 5 years-

which length of time please ?

is it law or just a sensible recommendation ?

many thanks for anticipated help

Yorkie1

There is no law about mandatory electrical inspections and/or their frequency.

You simply have to be sure that the electricity supply / appliances are safe, so regular inspections are sensible.

Owain_Moneysaver

Domestic installations are recommended to have a Periodic Inspection every 10 years.

You should carry out a visual inspection at every change of tenant to ensure that no switches/sockets have got damaged and that there haven't been any alterations to the wiring.

CaptainKidd

We do the PIR's which are now called "Electrical Installation Condition Report's" for some very large housing associations who only ever do them at change of tenancy, even done one the other day where a brand new built house had been lived on for just 2 months and they had to have us do another report for the simple reason its getting a new tenant.

The recommended is every 10 years for domestic but I have never came across a housing or landlord or even a home owner that bothers with it.

Personally I think it should be done at least every 5 years but that's just my personal opinion.

CaptainKidd

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

You should carry out a visual inspection at every change of tenant to ensure that no switches/sockets have got damaged and that there haven't been any alterations to the wiring.

As far as iam aware its a MUST that the house has a "Electrical Installation Condition Report" (PIR) done every time a new tenant has been moved in and not just a visual, as a visual inspection would not show up wiring faults etc.

G_M

CaptainKidd wrote: »

As far as iam aware its a MUST that the house has a "Electrical Installation Condition Report" (PIR) done every time a new tenant has been moved in and not just a visual, as a visual inspection would not show up wiring faults etc.

Sorry. Your 'awareness' is erroneous.

For rented accommodation, the maximum period recommended between the initial inspection (when the installation was first put into service) and the first periodic inspection and test is five years.

Periods between subsequent inspections will depend on the condition of the installation at the time of the preceding inspection, but it is recommended that periodic inspection and testing is carried out at least every five years or at the end of a tenancy, whichever comes first.

Where a change of tenancy occurs after a short period (for example less than six months), a full periodic inspection and test may not always be needed. However, in such cases, the landlord or their representative should always carry out a visual check to confirm that the property is safe to re-let.

See Electrical Safety Council.

Note these are recommendations, not law. For relevant leglislation, see the ESC link.

tbs624

Note that if the property is a licensable HMO there are specific requirements on electrical safety checks and certification and if you let to students, Universities will usually require sight of relevant certs, especially if you wish to advertise your property via the Uni Accomms Office (not all student properties are covered under HMO rules)

See also some guidance from ARLA