As a landlord, are you aware of your responsibilities when it comes to electrical safety? Well according to the Electrical Safety Council, a lot of landlords are blissfully unaware of issues surrounding electrical safety in rented accommodation, and with the numbers of private tenants in the UK disproportionately affected by electrical shocks and other electrical hazards, this is rather worrying!
Although most landlords are fully aware that gas appliances must be regularly checked and maintained, far too many are ignoring the dangers of dodgy wiring and potentially lethal electrical appliances. Indeed, a staggering 29% of landlords admitted that they had no idea whose responsibility it was when questioned.
So who IS responsible for taking care of the electrics in a rented property—landlord or tenant?
The law is very clear on this: landlords are responsible for ensuring all electrical installations and wiring is safe throughout the duration of a tenancy agreement. This means that you, the landlord, must have made sure wiring is up to scratch and all electrical appliances have been checked and are safe to use. Tenants are responsible for any electrical gadgets and appliances they bring with them, but they should tell the landlord if anything is amiss with the electrics during their tenancy.
What happens if a landlord fails to adhere to their responsibilities?
If you are subsequently found to have been negligent with regard to electrical safety, you could be prosecuted and fined up to £5,000 per individual count, or even imprisoned if the offence is deemed to be serious enough.
