Millions of Tenants at risk of Electrical Hazards

A report on the state of electrical safety in the private rental sector by Electrical First and Shelter has revealed that a shocking 1.2 million tenants are at risk due to homes not meeting basic electrical safety standards.

In this report Phil Buckle, director general of Electrical Safety First, calls for changes to industry standards to ensure that tenants are better protected under current law. He states “Mandatory five-yearly checks are the only way to ensure that all private rented sector properties are safe. This change in law would be very easy to implement as the primary legislation already exists and our research shows that the majority of MPs would support a change in law.”

Despite there being no legal obligation for landlords currently to ensure the electrical safety of a property before putting it up for rent, it is estimated that a professional electrical inspection costs as little as £100 – a small price to pay for tenant safety, especially considering the financial implications to the landlord should an accident occur.

Considering around 70 people die from electrical accidents each year, with over 350,000 suffering from serious injuries, it might be time for the government to implement regulations to help protect tenants, especially with regards to the ‘accidental’ landlords that have little or no experience of the PRS.

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