The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
requires that a house is: o edit
fit for human habitation at the commencement of the
tenancy, and
kept fit for human habitation by the landlord.
Each year, however, many people in rented accommodation
die and many more are injured by electric shock, and fires
started by electricity. The causes of such incidents are varied,
but include:
poorly installed and maintained electrical installations
inadequate provision for the use of items of electrical
equipment, such as hair dryers. inadequate checks on portable equipment
inadequate fire alarm systems.
Since January 2005, all domestic electrical
installation work carried out in England and
Wales has been required to comply with the
requirements of Part P of the Building
Regulations. This legislation requires that:
‘Reasonable provision shall be made in the design and
installation of electrical installations in order to protect
persons operating, maintaining or altering the installation
from fire or injury’.
Except for some very minor items of electrical installation
work, the mechanism for ensuring that the requirements of
Part P have been complied with is for the work either:
to be notified to a building control body (commonly the
local authority building control department) prior to any
work being carried out, or
to be carried out by a business registered with a
government-authorised electrical self-certification
scheme.
requires that a house is: o edit
fit for human habitation at the commencement of the
tenancy, and
kept fit for human habitation by the landlord.
Each year, however, many people in rented accommodation
die and many more are injured by electric shock, and fires
started by electricity. The causes of such incidents are varied,
but include:
poorly installed and maintained electrical installations
inadequate provision for the use of items of electrical
equipment, such as hair dryers. inadequate checks on portable equipment
inadequate fire alarm systems.
Since January 2005, all domestic electrical
installation work carried out in England and
Wales has been required to comply with the
requirements of Part P of the Building
Regulations. This legislation requires that:
‘Reasonable provision shall be made in the design and
installation of electrical installations in order to protect
persons operating, maintaining or altering the installation
from fire or injury’.
Except for some very minor items of electrical installation
work, the mechanism for ensuring that the requirements of
Part P have been complied with is for the work either:
to be notified to a building control body (commonly the
local authority building control department) prior to any
work being carried out, or
to be carried out by a business registered with a
government-authorised electrical self-certification
scheme.
Poorly maintained electrical
installations
An electrical installation, once installed, cannot simply be
ignored. Over time, the installation will deteriorate.
Connections can work loose (presenting a fire hazard), people
can be heavy-handed whilst plugging in items of equipment,
and building and maintenance work can have a detrimental
effect on the wiring etc.
Some basic safety checks can easily be carried out by the
landlord or agent. These include checks for:
broken socket-outlets and light switches signs of scorching around socket-outlets due to
overloading
overheating of electrical equipment – usually associated
with a strong, often fishlike, smell
damaged cables to portable equipment
A landlord should have a Periodic Inspection and Test Report
(PIR) carried out at regular intervals. The interval between
reports will depend, amongst other things, on the age and use
of the installation, and in some instances (in particular for
houses in multiple occupation) on the requirements of the
local licensing authority.
However, as an example, the Codes of Practice for Student
Accommodation recommends that a Periodic Inspection is
carried out at intervals no greater than 5 years.
Additionally, the Electrical Safety Council recommends that
every electrical installation is inspected and tested by an
electrically competent person on change of occupancy.
installations
An electrical installation, once installed, cannot simply be
ignored. Over time, the installation will deteriorate.
Connections can work loose (presenting a fire hazard), people
can be heavy-handed whilst plugging in items of equipment,
and building and maintenance work can have a detrimental
effect on the wiring etc.
Some basic safety checks can easily be carried out by the
landlord or agent. These include checks for:
broken socket-outlets and light switches signs of scorching around socket-outlets due to
overloading
overheating of electrical equipment – usually associated
with a strong, often fishlike, smell
damaged cables to portable equipment
A landlord should have a Periodic Inspection and Test Report
(PIR) carried out at regular intervals. The interval between
reports will depend, amongst other things, on the age and use
of the installation, and in some instances (in particular for
houses in multiple occupation) on the requirements of the
local licensing authority.
However, as an example, the Codes of Practice for Student
Accommodation recommends that a Periodic Inspection is
carried out at intervals no greater than 5 years.
Additionally, the Electrical Safety Council recommends that
every electrical installation is inspected and tested by an
electrically competent person on change of occupancy.
Should you require a PIR report please do not hesitate to contact us