As a landlord you need to manage your property well and safely. Providing a landlord electrical safety certificate to your tenants at the beginning of any tenancy is a standard practice for a responsible landlord. If an incident occurs when any electrical fittings or appliances within your property cause harm to a tenant you are likely to be liable.
The Landlord and tenant Act 1985 requires that landlords fulfil their responsibility that the electrical installation is safe and adheres to up to date regulations when the tenancy begins, and is maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy. The electrical certificate of compliance will ensure that you are covered by law.
What falls within the remit of the electrical certificate for landlords?
- The electrical system should comply with the latest wiring regulations.
- Circuit breakers (RCD) must be fitted to power circuits.
- Appliances supplied must be complete and in working order – keep purchase receipts.
- Second hand equipment must be checked.
- Operating instructions and safety warning notices must be supplied with any appliances.
- Flexes must be in good order and properly attached to appliances and plugs.
- Plugs should be of an approved type with sleeved live and neutral pins.
- Plugs and sockets should conform to BS1363 or BS1363/A for heavy duty uses.
- Earth tags must be in place.
- Fuses should be of the correct type and rating.
- Tenants should know the location of and have access to the main consumer unit, fuses and isolator switch.
- All fuse ratings should be on the inventory.
Visual electrical safety checks
The initial inspection for the landlord electrical safety certificate can be visual. A way of recognising safety is to do simple and easy visual inspection of the installation, looking for any obvious signs of damage, corrosion, burnt marks, defects or incorrect install on cables, socket outlets, light fittings and fuse boards.
Further electrical safety checking
Sometimes visual inspection will not be enough to determine unsafe install or perishing wiring in which a full instrumental test shall be required. The Institute of Electrical Engineers recommends that electrical installations are formally inspected and tested by a fully qualified competent person and a periodic electrical certificate for landlords is produced.
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