Electrical safety is important. Poorly installed or maintained electrical installations can develop faults and become hazards. These can lead to fire, injury or death.<\/p>\n
So it\u2019s important to make sure that the electrics in your home are safe and working properly. But what if you own or live in a rented property?<\/p>\n
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 provides information on who is responsible for maintaining the electrical installation in a rented property.<\/p>\n
Read on for more information on the Landlord and Tenant Act and how it affects you.<\/p>\n
The Landlord and Tenant Act is a law that came into power in 1985. It states the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants. This includes who is responsible for maintaining the electrical installation in a rented property.<\/p>\n
Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act says that for most tenancies the landlord is responsible for maintaining the rented property. This is as long as it\u2019s a short lease, or a tenancy agreed for less than 7 years. Maintaining the property includes making sure that the electrical installation is safe and working properly.<\/p>\n
The act also details some situations where the landlord is not responsible for maintaining the electrics. This is if the property has been damaged by extreme weather or fire, or there\u2019s a fault with an electrical appliance that belongs to the tenant rather than the landlord.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s your job to make sure the electrics in your property are safe. You should ensure they\u2019re safe and working well when new tenants move in, and maintain this during the tenancy. <\/p>\n
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If you’re confident that your installation is in good condition, a great idea would be to get a survey and an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). This will prove the good condition of the electrics when your new tenants move in. Fixed Appliance (FAT) and Portable Appliance (PAT) tests are also good tests to get done.<\/p>\n
You should keep an eye on the electrics in your home. If you discover any faults or potential problems, contact your landlord. It\u2019s their responsibility to sort it out for you, as long as it\u2019s electrical equipment that came with the property.<\/p>\n
Your landlord\u2019s responsible for maintaining your electrics by law. This is the case even if it says something different in your tenancy agreement. Your landlord should also never ask you to pay for electrical repair work.<\/p>\n