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Electrical Safety Responsibilities for Homeowners and Landlords

Electrical Safety Responsibilities for Homeowners and Landlords

If you’re a homeowner or a landlord, there are a range of electrical safety considerations that you need to bear in mind – especially so if you are renting your house out in Wales, and need to comply with Rent Smart Wales rules.

 

Landlord Responsibilities

As a landlord, you are responsible for making sure that the electrical installation is safe when each tenancy begins, and that it is maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy too. If the property you are renting is a house of multiple occupation, you will need to ensure you produce a certificate to certify the safety of the electrical installation every 5 years.

Any appliances you provide in the house you will need to ensure has the CE marking, which is the manufacturer’s claim that it meets all the requirements of current European law. If you are providing appliances or white goods, you should also have a PAT sticker on the plug for each item, usually at the start of each tenancy agreement.

 

Homeowner

As a homeowner the rules are a little different – just remember it is better to be safe than sorry.

You should carry out an electrical inspection every 10 years, and more often than not, this can be an element of your mortgage agreement when first buying a house, to prove the safety before signing on the dotted line.

You should continuously be aware for any danger signs, and make sure all electrical equipment is maintained in your home properly.

Finally, as homeowners we know DIY is always a popular option, but if you are looking to do anything with your electrics, we’d highly recommend a certified electrician so you can be 100% confident in the safety of the work.

 

Renters

Finally, if you rent your home, you will be responsible for ensuring the condition of any electrical installations and appliances, but not for the upkeep of those (depending on your tenancy agreement, if appliances are provided). Watch out for danger signs and make sure you are comfortable that all electrical equipment in your home is properly maintained – this means allowing your landlord or agent access to carry out inspections and repairs.

Don’t be tempted to accept an appliance is safe on the basis of your landlord or agent supplying them to you, always make sure you are 100% confident and happy before using them.