Electrical Safety in the Home

It is recommended that an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is completed at all homes every 5 years.

The test usually takes a couple of hours to complete, however if urgent remedial works are found to be needed this will mean it will take longer to completed.

Any non-urgent works required will be booked in with the tenant so any outstanding work can be completed.

They will check fixed wiring in the property. This can include:

• Cables
• Switches
• Sockets
• Electrical Meter and Consumer Unit

While at the property they will check all wired detection devices such as smoke, heat and carbon monoxide and replace any that are damaged or due to be renewed.

It is very important that you allow access for your electrical check, if you fail to notify us without enough notice that you will not be in for the appointment a no access will be logged.

After 3 missed appointments, to meet our obligations as your landlord, it may be referred to the legal team and action can be taken to gain access to make safe. This will involve applying for an injunction with the court to gain access to complete the check.

It is part of all tenants tenancy agreement to allow access for essential works. If formal legal action is taken to gain access to the property any costs incurred will be charged to you.

There are unavoidable times where a power cut can happen for different reasons.

If it appears to only be your home, then it may be an isolated issue with your home, however if it is impacting more properties it could be a issues with the power company.

If it is only your home?

• Check the trip box in the property if you are able to, if it has tripped this could be connected to a faulty lightbulb or appliance.
• If you are unable to check if its tripped or locate what could be causing the electric to trip please report it to us following the instructions on the reporting a repair page.

Is there a wider power issue?

• You can check with the power company if there is a know fault in your area, they can provide further details.
• If you are unsure who to call, calling 105 is a free number and they can put you through to your local operator.

What should you when there is a power cut?

• Ensure anything that shouldn't be left unattended is turned off in readiness for power to return.
• Leave a light switch on, this will help you know if power has been returned.
• Do not attempt to tamper with any electrics to try get it working, there will be professionals working on this.

How to prepare for power cut?

• Always have a working torch in a easily accessible location.
• Have blankets available in the home to keep warm.
• Try to keep a form of communication like a phone charged.
• Have food in the home available that does not require electricity to cook it.

Tenant Responsibility

Electrical items in the home that do not fall under the Electrical Test are the tenant responsibility, examples of electrical items in the item home that are tenant responsibility are e.g. extension leads, kitchen appliances, lamps, and anything else you plug into a main wall socket.

How to keep safe in the home?

• Do not overload sockets or extension leads.
• Only plug large appliances into direct sockets and not extension leads, e.g. Fridge, Freezers and Tumble Dryers.
• If a wire or any other part of the appliance or socket appears damaged, do not use.
• Only use electrical items that meet British Standards.
• Do not use electrical items near water, e.g. do not use in the bathroom.
• Do not store items on or around electrical items, e.g. microwaves or electrical meters.
• Do not ever attempt to tamper with electrics, this is extremely dangerous and can cause electric shocks, burns and in worst cases death to people, to the home it can causes fires and explosions.

To ensure the standard of all electrical tests, upgrades and rewires that take place in the home, we have an external auditing specialist that will do a further check on a selection of properties.

These works are completed by Auditors Morgan Lambert and they will contact residents directly if they have selected your recent work to be audited.

What will happen at the Audit?

• Check the work itself that has already taken place, and the related paperwork.
• Notify us if any follow up work is needed.
• We will arrange a follow up for any repairs that may be required in your home.