Offering our services to Letting Agents and Landlords certainly keeps us busy in the Plymouth area. And this month has been no exception!
We offer many services to our landlords including basic electrical replacements and upgrades to full rewires. However the most important electrical service we provide the Landlords is without a doubt a full Safety Check. Known as an Electrical Condition Report (EICR)
So what are these reports and why are they so important? These are a few of the regular questions we get asked.
What is an electrical condition report?
An electrical installation condition report (EICR) identifies any damage, deterioration, defects and/or conditions which may give rise to danger along with observations for which improvement is recommended.
What is tested during the inspection?
Our electricians will test and inspect the fixed electrical installations in the property. For example: wiring, plug sockets, light fittings, fuse boxes, electric showers and extractor fans. They can then make any immediate hazards safe before they leave your home.
All private landlords are required to have their electrical installations inspected and tested at least every five years, and must provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants, as well as their local authority if requested to do so
How long does a landlord electrical safety check take?
An electrical safety check generally takes between 3-4 hours to complete. Nevertheless, this depends on the size of the property and the number of circuits that need testing.
What will fail an electrical inspection?
There are a number of reasons why electrical work done on your home might fail inspection. Some of the most common are: Lack of GFCI protection on outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, or other areas where water might be involved. Exposed wiring or open-sliced wires.
Is the landlord responsible for electrical problems?
Electrical safety is critical. It makes landlords entirely responsible for the repair and maintenance of the electricity supply. Landlords and letting agents are required to check the safety of the electrical appliances that came with the property at regular intervals.
Is 5 year electrical test a legal requirement?
The Regulations require landlords to ensure that every fixed electrical installation is inspected and tested at least every five years by a qualified person from 01 July 2020 for all new private tenancies and 01 April 2021 for current tenancies.
There are many other questions we get asked about these reports but if you would like some further information or for a free no obligation quotation just get in touch. We’re always happy to help.