An electrical test guide for owners

If you are a landlord with a property to rent to tenants, it is important that you make sure that the building is safe to occupy and has undergone all vital health and safety controls.
One of the most important checks to be carried out on the properties is the electrical test.
A recent article in the Evening Standard highlighted a study conducted by the Electrical Safety Certificate of Landlord. The study exposed the fact that private landlords are risking the lives of tenants by not complying with basic health and safety obligations, and poor electrical tests represent a significant risk.
Electrical accidents are the cause of more than 350,000 serious injuries each year and cause more than half of all accidental home fires.

Most accidents at home are caused by failures or misuse of appliances, push-ups, plugs or connectors. A large proportion of accidents are caused by poor electrical maintenance or DIY activities. The most serious health hazards arise from electrical accidents such as electric shocks, burns, electric explosions, fires and mechanical movements initiated by electricity.
The causes of these incidents vary, but may include:

• Deterioration of electrical installation parts;
• Broken appliance or accessories and installation equipment;
• Misuse of the installation and appliances;
• Poor and infrequent tests and maintenance.
• Owner Responsibilities
• Owners are required to ensure that electrical installations and appliances are maintained and are in safe condition with a minimum risk of injury or death to humans, and a minimum risk of property damage.

The electrical installations are:
All the fixed electrical equipment that is supplied through the electricity meter, including the cables that are usually hidden in the building fabric (walls and ceilings), accessories (plugs, switches and lighting fixtures) and the consumption unit (box of fuses) that contains all the fuses or circuit breakers.
The appliances are:
Any device added to the property that uses electricity to perform a function. For example, lamp, toaster, oven, kettle, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher, etc.
All appliances installed by the owner are the responsibility of the owner and must ensure that they are properly tested, safe and fit their purpose.
Appliances supplied by the landlord must be new or verified by a qualified electrician before the property is rented to the tenants and all documentation (i.e. receipts, warranties, inspection certificates) must be maintained for a minimum period of six years.
All appliances and installations supplied must be marked with the appropriate CE symbol (which is the manufacturer's claim that it meets all the requirements of European law).

What does the law say?
The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985 requires that the electrical installation in a rented property be:
safe when a lease begins and
kept in safe condition throughout the lease.
The landlord cannot hold the tenant responsible for repairs associated with the appliances and the facility that the landlord has provided. for more info click here