Electrical safety in the private rented sector urgently needs addressing, MPs have been told.
In a debate on the subject, secured by Lib Dem MP Mike Thornton, the House of Commons heard that in offices, electrical appliances had to be tested to safeguard workers.
But such safeguards do not exist for private tenants.
Thornton, who represents Eastleigh in Hampshire, said: “Current rules mean that landlords are under no obligation to provide tenants with electrical safety certificates… That is despite the fact that a gas safety certificate is required.”
He said that one tenant had raised the issue after serious concerns about the electrics in his rented property.
Thornton said that quite frankly, it “looked like a death-trap”.
He said that it was evident that laws were “just not up to scratch”. He called for a change in the law to bring in a simple five-yearly check, similar to the mandatory annual gas safety check. He said it would cost around £200 and save lives.
Stephen Williams, parliamentary under-secretary of state for Communities and Local Government, said: “There is a general statutory duty on landlords to ensure that their property is in good repair while being let, and that is deemed to include electrical installations, to ensure that any appliances supplied with the property are safe.”
He said that the compulsory installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all private rented homes was also under consideration.
Williams also said that letting agents had a part to play.
He said: “We are also considering the letting agents market.
“As I am sure many of us know from the experiences brought to us by our constituents, and possibly from our own personal experience, many private rental properties are secured through a letting agent.
“The majority of agents provide a good service, but some do not and charge tenants excessive fees for a poor service, which might include not giving information about electrical installations or white goods in the property.
“From 2014, all letting agents will have to belong to a redress scheme, which will ensure that tenants have access to an independent adjudicator, who will be able to investigate complaints about a letting agent and order compensation to be paid, if appropriate.”
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Comments
But didn't you know? the Social Sector is beyond reproach apparently. Perhaps the lawmarkers should look at how many complaints their ombudsman receives!
The Electrical Safety Council already suggest an EICR every 5 years combined with a visual inspection after each tenancy. This should really be a standard minimum requirement.
The only defence for a landlord under current legislation is due dilligence, so agents should already be advising landlords to do this.
We've seen so many bodges and dodgy electrics that we insisit landlords have a valid EICR and deal with any safety defects. It's part of our terms of business and we won't accept them without one.
I agree with the proposals regarding electrical safety.
What I don't agree with is why this is only being proposed for the private rental sector.
If the requirement is brought in then surely it should also be brought in for the social rental sector as well.
"He said that the compulsory installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all private rented homes was also under consideration".
They tried this one before, to install CO detectors to keep tenants safe in cases where landlords hadn't had a gas safety check done. It just doesn't occur to them that the landlord who won't get a gas safety done won't get a co detector fitted either.
@ Is this an Elf & Safety Story
It sounds like you're getting ripped off if that's all you're expecting from an electrical safety check. I'd change suppliers if I was you and get someone who knows what they are doing.
"He said that the compulsory installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all private rented homes was also under consideration". No doubt this will include flats and houses where there is no gas supply to the building!
What a rip-off the Electrical Safety Cirt is, you pay some person to go around with what is extensively a screwdriver with a bulb on top. If the bulb lights up when it is put into an electrical socket it OK, if not then no pass until it lights up again. And you have to pay for this. Grow up, don't be like the last Labour Gov and treat everyone as stupid and stop ripping off landlords and tenants with stupid costs for stupid things. Or is it the Gov. way of reducing the employment stats for a while, getting more stupid people to pass a course to be able to offer these certificates. HIPS anyone.
Good shout on the fridge
I just had a tenant say the fridge cost too much money to run this time of year.
The food has been removed and placed outside in a shed until it gets too warm.
Quote:
"(some agents) charge tenants excessive fees for a poor service, which might include not giving information about electrical installations or white goods in the property."
What information does he think letting agents should give? Should we be explaining to tenants that the oblong shaped thing in the corner of a kitchen is called a fridge and that they can use it to keep their food cold?