Commenting on the announcement of the imminent introduction of mandatory electrical safety checks in the Private Rented Sector Martyn Allen, Technical Director at Electrical Safety First commented:
“Today’s commitment by the Government to bring mandatory electrical safety checks into force is a success for millions of renters and their landlords in England.
It has been long overdue that the dangers posed by electricity in the home were taken as seriously as that of gas and this legislation will act as a protective measure for millions. Whilst we welcome this crucial step in protecting tenants, the safety of electrics should not be a lottery based on tenure type and we hope to see the regulation mirrored in the social housing sector in the near future.
We have heard harrowing tales of fatal accidents caused by unsafe electrics in rented properties and this new regulation will act as a step to ensuring such tragedies don’t happen again.
Tenants around the country will finally be able to hold landlords to account for the safety of electrics in their property and while we acknowledge the majority of landlords already take suitable measures to ensure their properties are safe, this new law will hold those that fail to do so, to account.
Private landlords will now have the clarity from Government as to when this new regulation will come into force and with it will serve as a way to better protect their assets through the frequent upkeep of their property’s electrics.
It is now vital this new regulation has teeth and that the enforcement body has the resources to act when necessary, to protect the tenant.“