Electrical Safety For Landlords In Rental Property

There is an unfortunate grey area around what landlords must do to fulfil their legal obligations concerning electrical systems and electrical equipment. Hopefully this article will clear some of those issues up.

Landlord Legal Obligations to Electrical Safety

There is currently no law that states a landlord must perform annual electrical safety checks (or any checks at all), so it’s not quite as cut and dried as Gas Safety regulations in rental properties, which stipulates the landlord is legally obligated to get an annual Gas Safety Certification. However, there are various regulations that do apply, but in nearly all cases their requirements only state that systems and equipment must be safely installed and safely maintained.

Failure to provide safely installed and maintained electrical appliances can lead to prosecution as it is a criminal offence. Possibly penalties for failing to comply are as follows:

• Your property insurance may be invalidated
• A fine of £5,000 per item not complying
• Six month’s imprisonment
• The Tenant may also sue you for civil damages
• Possible manslaughter charges in the even of deaths

These regulations are enforced by the Health & Safety Executive. To avoid legal prosecution, it is advisable for landlords to have periodic checks done by a qualified electrician.

Electrical Saftey Regulations

As said, there is no statutory obligation for landlords to have professional checks carried out on the electrical system or appliances. However, under Common Law and various statutory regulations: The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, The Housing Act 2004, The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, and the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994, both of which come under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, there is an obligation to ensure that all electrical equipment is safe.

Moreover, under Part P of the Building Regulations, it is a requirement that certain types of electrical work in dwellings, garages, sheds, greenhouses and outbuilding also comply with the standards.

In all cases, a competent electrician must carry out the work. In order for the landlord to perform DIY electrical work, he must belong to one of the Government’s approved Competent Person Self-Certification schemes or submit a building notice to the local authority before doing the work himself.

Electrical Safety measures landlords should take:

The rule of thumb with any safety aspects in a rental property is, manage your property well and the risks are minimal, but manage it badly and risks are high.

Landlords are advised to make visual inspections and have periodic checks carried out by a qualified electrician.

Here are a few safety procedures that should be followed:

• Keep supplied appliances to a minimum.
• Ensure that all fuses are of the correct type and rating.
• Make sure appliances supplied are complete and in working order – keep purchase receipts.
• Ensure that flexes are in good order and properly attached to appliances and plugs.
• Ensure that earth tags are in place.
• Make a note of all fuse ratings on the inventory.
• Ensure that plugs are of an approved type with sleeved live and neutral pins.
• Ensure that plugs and sockets conform to BS1363 or BS1363/A for heavy duty uses.
• Pay particular attention to second hand equipment – always have these items checked.
• Ensure that operating instructions and safety warning notices are supplied with the appliances.
• Make sure that tenants know the location of and have access to the main consumer unit, fuses and isolator switch.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) in rental accommodation

Portable Appliance Testing (commonly known as PAT or PAT Inspection or PAT Testing) is a process in which electrical appliances are routinely checked for safety. The correct term for the whole process is In-service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment.

• If the property is an HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) you are required by law to provide yearly PAT (portable appliance testing) certificates for all appliances.
• Any second hand equipment MUST be PAT tested by law. That’s why charity shops no longer accept electrical goods – it would cost them too much to administer!
• Technically, any equipment returned from service or repair MUST be PAT tested and carry the requisite sticker

Extra notes

On a final note, it’s always strongly advised that every landlord should make absolute carertainty they are complying with the appropriate electrical safety regulations to ensure that all electrical equipment supplied is safe. Get periodic inspections of electrical equipment by a qualified electrician.

Previous Article

Landlord Health And Safety Precautions

Related Articles

Landlords Paying Tax On Rental Income

What Landlords Should Know About ‘White Goods’

Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords

Landlord Health And Safety Precautions

60 Comments - join the conversation...

Showing 11 - 60 comments (out of 60)

Jessica2009-07-24 11:37:56 I got my electrical certificate, which passed, in April before it went on the rental market. My tenants move in tomorrow and now the agency that I am letting it through say that I need a mains connected smoke alarm (my flat was built pre 1992 so I am sure a working battery operated one is ok) and there is a wobbly plug socket that needs fixing. This should have been mention on the certicate but it wasn't, so I am fuming. What is the point of paying over £100 for the certificate if this doesn't get picked up? 11

Jools2009-07-25 06:19:54 A rental property is obliged bylaw to have mains smoke detectors with battery backup and preferably interlinked fitted. They can be on separate circuits ie upstairs and downstairs individual lighting circuits so that if the power goes off on one the other is still working.
Not your sparkys fault really as he expects you as a landlord to know the regulations relating to your property. He will advise best location and routing of wires etc but he won't say you need this or that. He may think you will take it as him trying to screw you for extra work or money! Electrical safety is exactly that - its not a fire safety certificate. The small cost of having them fitted is outweighed by the fact that you will be able to sleep easy at night knowing your tenants are safe and not removing the batteries to power their radios etc! Jools 12

Jessica2009-07-26 09:53:12 Hi Jools,

Where is this legislation? Is this very new? The only legislation I can find states that if the property was built post 1992 it must have a mains operated smoke alarm, before that it must have a functioning smoke alarm.
Also, it is the agency that says the sparky should have recommended it. And I can sleep easy knowing my tenants haven't removed the battery for their radio, they are doctors and if they were that stupid I'm not sure they would have got through med school! 13

Jools2009-07-26 19:24:26 Out of the country at the moment so can't get to the legislation. Intelligence and common sense are totally different! I know plenty of highly intelligent people who I would not trust to wire a plug. Don't ever get them confused. Jools. 14

Bermomdsey2009-07-27 14:41:25 Jus wanted to know, i moved into a flat and a switch was not working for a set of Lights. And the light switch was kind of important as they allowed us to go down to the basement bedrooms without tumbling down the stairs. Would the landlord be responsible for that?? 15

Power Plus Electrical.co.uk2009-10-13 01:34:04 In responce to Bermomdsey:

Yes your landlord has a due care to withstand safe electrical install. Leaving stairs unlit is falling under health and saftey regulations.

Dougie,
Power Plus Electrical.co.uk 16

twattybollocks2009-10-13 10:23:45 @ Bermondsey: Dougie is right. landlord totally liable as critical H&S issue. If the landlord does not do anything about it - have a fall on the stairs and then get someone to sue him for injury.

TB 17

kitty2009-10-16 12:18:06 We recently had cause to have an electrian call to our rented property and replace a plug that stopped working, He recommended a complete rewire as the wiring is so old it is breaking down, Since then I have received a nasty electic shock from lighting wiring which was left out in the open when the landlord removed a greenhouse (we got someone in to diss-connect for us in the end) and now my husband has had a heavy glass lampshade fall on his face leaving him needing hospital treatment,this appears to have happened due to the age of the fitting and the clips holdin the shade in place weakening. What should we do now, we get little response with problems reported to our landlord and theres been a few,he also refused to put the deposit into a holding account as he claimed that it was his money and the government were not telling him where he could keep it!.We could do with advice. 18

Power Plus Electrical.co.uk2009-10-21 18:25:30 A landlord has a legal responicibilty to ensure your proerty is fit and safe for use. He does not need to get it tested or inspected by law, but he does require to prove in a court room that he has taken reasonable steps to ensure electrical saftey of all electrics and appliances.

By the sound of it if it is that dangerours i would recorded delivery a letter to your landlord explaining your concern.

With no results i would then call for an electrian to lightly test property and get him to issue a "unsafe situation report" (might be called something slightly difffernnt) and again recorded delivery it to him. This report once issued will invalidate his property insurnace untill a satisfactory PIR certificate issued.

Contact your local trading standards and local council landlords registration board/housing and they can assist further. 19

julie-ann butler2009-10-28 20:08:36 Hi i have just moved into a 2 bedroom flat which is allocated above and behind a bussiness centre owned by my landlord, i believe the flat was a office before he decided to make it into a flat, i hav had quite a few problems up to date but my landlord i believe is trying to save money by tring to fix them by doing things hinself or sending handymen even my neighbour on a couple of occassions, i am now geting concerned as he is fitting plugs in my kitchen running off a new socket for my washing machine off othe cooker wire which is allocated behind my cooker exposed on a round black box thing, i have also had probs 4 weeks with the ecc 7 on my water heating tanks and hav been running the water on the top tank as bottom 1 dont work , he keeps fobbing me off thermostate which he sent neighbour to fit but that didnt work changing fuses, ect he has now said it is element inside which he say it must be and getting a plummer? in tp do it 11 days later as apartly he only uses 1 plummer and he dont work half term as single parent ect, i said about getting a plummer in and getting rein bursed and was told i could do that but they would only reinburse £40 as that is what there plummer cost?seems cheap to me can i ask if he is corgi and if not can i refuse him to do it as i am quessing this is another handyman/friend doing it 4 him.where do i stand and what do i do 20

Jools2009-10-28 20:18:10 Hi Julie Ann - ANY work in the kitchen or bathroom MUST BY LAW be carried out by a Part P registered electrician otherwise the house insurance is invalidated. report him to your local council's enforcement team.

Jools 21

Power Plus Electrical.co.uk2009-10-28 22:37:35 Part P is not for Scotland! Make things clearer in your posts Jools 22

jools2009-10-28 23:05:52 Sorry - where in the post did it say she was in Scotland? 23

Power Plus Electrical.co.uk2009-10-29 08:51:47 It didnt but she could have been, i get a lot of customers askinmg if im part p registared because they read it on the internet 24

jools2009-10-29 09:53:01 Thing is you could have said "I am in Scotland and part P does not apply here" if you wanted to make it clearer. After all she could have been in Ireland or Canada! Or you could have made it clearer still by stating what IS in force in Scotland. 25

ChelseaBlue2009-11-30 21:58:13 Hi

Tenants are liable to be evicted should the breach any part of the contract, however should a landlord or letting agent breach their part of the shorthold tenancy agreement can this be of grounds for the tenant to give notice to quit and not be liable for the rent for the rest of the contract term?

They are in breach of about four different clauses within the contract. The main one is that they shall provide saftey certificates for the gas and electric of which they have and did not do... to my understanding these are to be produced 28 days before or after the tenant moves in, it has now been two months and have seen nothing!!

Your answer would be very much appreciated.

Thank you. 26

Jane Talbot2009-12-11 10:36:48 Dear Jools,

I have just found your site. Thank you. Back in July there was a discussion about smoke alarms and whether they had to be on the mains or could be battery. Did that ever get resolved? My property is 1930s and I've always had a battery one.

Thank you

Jane Talbot 27

Jools2009-12-11 10:50:52 Hi Jane - Wish I could take credit for the site but that pleasure goes to The Landlord!

The alarms have to be mains with battery backup but you should check with your locals councils private housing unit on their requirements for private rented accomodation. I think the issue at the time was whether they should be interlinked. Again it really depends on the councils spec but I always interlink mine as at some stage in the future it is bound to be a legal requirement.

According to a NICEIC registered electrician I use if they are on separate floors they should be on separate circuits and preferably on the lighting side so that if the lights are out you know the detectors are off too - just an easy way to keep an eye on things.

For the cost of running an extra interling wire and a bit of trunking it really is a no brainer. I know you can get RF (wireless) smoke alarms but I am unsure as to whether 'interlinked' actually means physically by wire or by other methods. If someone out there knows - please update us all!

Cheers

Jools 28

Caroline2010-01-27 14:57:33 Hi there, i have 2 questions

in England what are the elec regs for my renting out a property? does a battery smoke alarm suffice.

In Scotland, are the gas regs the same as UK? what are the elec regs?

thanks in advance 29

Power Plus Electrical.co.uk2010-01-28 03:49:52 Q1, You must take reasonable safety routes as a landlord, gas certificate, electric certificate, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detector, registered with local council, insurance for your property and possibly rent arrear, health and safety. Furniture fire requirments, fire exits, fire precautions list can go on.

Q2 Gas regs same as all over UK, electrics regs same? 30

william2010-02-02 15:55:10 hi my names william i recently moved in to a property and wasnt provided with any safety paper work is this legal and all so i have done a lot of work on this house now they want me to leave is there any way to reclaim my money as i havent the cash to spend on re doing a new house i live with my son who is 18months 31

The Landlord2010-02-02 16:14:47 Hey William,

As it stands, landlords only need to provide you with a gas satey certificate. They don't need to provide you with any electrical satefy documentation.

Unfortunately, you can't reclaim any money you spent on the property, because it was "optional" work which you decided to do on your own accord.

Kind regards 32

william2010-02-02 16:20:38 hi thanks for the reply i wasnt given a gas safety cert dos this mean they have rented me it ilegaly iv lived there since 08.09..and part of the arrangement was to do some repair wwork on the property in return for a rent reduction
i dont know if this makes ANY DIFFRENCE .. thanks a gain william 33

william2010-02-02 16:33:05 just to add ther was no kitchen when i moved in and i had to fit myself ,the garden was full of cut trees that i moved in and there was a gaint hole in the celing witch i repaired with the help of a plaster friend of mine the drains were b 34

Gel2010-03-05 03:44:33 Hi - can you tell me if the law states how many plug sockets a property should have or how many in each room? We have lived in this house for 10 years now and it was built during the war. Obviously, people didn't have as many electrical items then but have many more now. To give you an idea, I have 4 double sockets on the ground floor which comprises the kitchen, living room, dining room and hallway and I have 3 on the 1st floor which comprises 3 bedrooms, bathroom and hallway. The wiring has never been checked as long as we have lived here and we rely heavily on extension leads but I am sure that we must be overloading the system. Please advise.....thank you. 35

jools2010-03-05 18:55:12 @william - just because they did not give you a copy does not mean they did not have one. Strange and unlikely as it seems!! You only have to display certificates under certain circumstances. I always show prospective tenants the current safety certificate but thats 'cos I am a good landlord (I hope).

@Gel - the law does not provide a minimum number. When the house was built the 4 double sockets were proabably adequate given the lack of electronic items. The rule of thumb these days is the more the merrier but I don't think the LL is breaking any laws. Unfortunately adding new sockets properly is an expensive undertaking since, to be done properly, the wiring must be chased into the walls. Not something that can be done whilst the house is inhabited because the amount of dust produced is huge.

If you are using a lot of extension leads then you are runningthe risk of ovrloading and causing a fire. The LL is under no obligation to obtain a certificate of safety BUT if wiring is present it must be safe! Inspections are not too expensive (say £100) but they do last for 10 years. Its the nest of vipers that it may uncover is the expensive part.

Hope this helps

Jools 36

Paula2010-06-08 18:25:41 Many thanks for the web site, I am a private landlady and was not aware that smoke alarms should be mains fitted. We have found that most tenants actually take down the battery ones we suppy! 37

kirsty2010-07-07 21:53:07 Hi Jools,

I have just moved into a property - it only took 3days to get everything done...
On getting into the property on closer inspection there are a few issues...
1) there is a plug socket just inches under the kitchen sink which has a 3 of the large thick grey wires going into it / from it. it is losely screwed to a piece of chipboard which is not fitted securely. the worktop seal is broken so water could drip directly down onto it.
2) the isolator/ fuse switch for the cooker / exractor fan does not work! it is not even connected to the cooker. the cooker is instead plugged (with a normal plug) into a socket which i believe is connected to the plug under the sink.
3) on the viewing we were told that the property came with washer / dryer - it doesnt it only has a dryer!!!
4) There is no smoke alarm at all in the property (2nd floor flat - 2rooms let to 2sep households)
5)we were not provided with energy certificates

What are my rights if i wish to stop this tennancy agreement and seeking a safe property having only paid 06/07/10?

We have a friend who is a qualified electrician to come on Friday and check the property to ensure it is safe as we darent move in - even though we are currently paying!!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kirsty 38

Defence estates, dhe & hic - a personal war2010-09-08 14:24:15 [...] I am sure they are Digi photos. This may be of interest to you Electrical Safety Regulations and Electrical Safety For Landlords In Rental Property Reply With [...] 39

Darren2010-09-30 16:51:32 Hello, we are due to vacate a rented property, due to the poor conditions, i.e faulty boiler and dodgy electrics and a leaky roof in conservatory which connects open plan to the main living room, i am in half a mind to withhold some of my final rent, to cover the extra heating bills, also the landlord has never produced any safety certificates, would i be within my rights to do this 40

Eric2010-10-06 10:49:01 Smoke alarms!
I am renting a property out for a short term let. i.e. rented for overnight stays for walkers passing through. I live in wales. The property is tiny (One up one down!) Can I use battery smoke alarms or are there any available that I can wire straight into the lighting circuit?
Thanks 41

RACHEL2010-10-27 18:15:58 Hi, I moved into a property yesterday and the boiler wouldnt work, this was due to the socket being wet threw, the whole electrics in the kitchen went, had no central heating or hot water (still havent got any)luckily the landlord has home care with british gas so an electrician came out who has since advised us that the house is pretty dangerous as everything is through extention cables, there is also a huge leak under the stairs, and none of the appliances or sockets have been pat tested, where do i stand on getting my months rent and full deposit back???

Thank you Rachel 42

Mark dames2010-12-16 10:16:33 I have been asked by the hmo section to get the house re-wired because it is unsafe to the neighbours. My question do i have to get this work carried out if the property is on the market for sale or is the Hmo section within there rights pursue the matter even thou the property is empty and the electric supply has been turned off from the main. Many thanks. 43

Clinton Roberts2010-12-19 14:01:16 Last sunday our emerison heater blew up destroying the second floor and almost killing my wife and 7months old son!!!
all of our posetions are damaged or broken and we have no where to live. I belive it is due to a faulty emersion heater that should have been unwird.
What action can i take against the land lord?
if anyone has any advice please call me 07814544372 44

Jools2010-12-20 10:32:37 Clinton,

If you believe the explosion was due to a faulty immersion heater did you inform the landlord that it was faulty beforehand?

Look - accidents happen - if the LL did not know about the fault (and the balance of probabilities is he/she did not) then how can they be to blame? Your possesions should be covered by your contents insurance policy (your LL's buildings policy will not cover you - any why should it) so you should contact your insurers. If you were not insured then that is not your LL's problem.

If you have no where to live you need to contact your local councils housing officer for advice asap.

If you want to take action against your LL then YOU will have to prove the immersion was faulty or dangerous - very difficult to prove given no one can see inside the unit! Your "belief" that it was faulty or that it "should have been unwird (sic)" is not enough - sorry.

Hope you get it sorted soon, but please don't believe that you have an automatic right to claim compensation.

Jools 45

Craig Smith2011-03-13 12:45:47 Hi Peeps

Is it a law requirement to have a cooker switch in your kitchen? as our oven stopped working, and bought a new one that requires this switch, but our landlord wont fit one, he just keeps saying put a plug on the end of it, but this will just blow as it needs a 30amp fuss and not a 13amp, any ideas?

Craig 46

Jools2011-03-13 14:10:56 No Craig,

There is no legal requirement for the cooker switch. If there is one fitted then it must comply with the electrical regulations in position and rating.

However, many cookers now operate off the square pin plug and so don't require the switch. My advice is to speak to your oven supplier and explain that you have bought the wrong type and see if there is the possibility of an exchange.

Your LL is under no legal obligation to fit a cooker switch and the necessary high rating cable just because you have bought the wrong one. Sorry.

Jools 47

Paul2011-03-16 21:12:35 Hi All,

I wonder if anybody can advice please:

I have been renting my 2 bed house since June last year, after 6 months peace and quiet the agency decided to get a little heavy with me over very minor details,atfer a 6 monthly inspection, I decided to go down the legal path with regards to what legal obligations they should follow, I know they legally they should have supplied an EPC when I took on the property, I have since asked for the aforementioned, which they have supplied, it turns out that the certificate is FAKE, ohhh dear, also, the wiring in the house is diabolical, bare wires hanging from the shed and live!! there is no equipotential bonding in the house, and earth wires left dangling in thin air not connected to the sink bath etc etc, very shoddy, what and where would you turn??
Many thanks

Many thanks 48

Basbas2011-04-12 21:31:15 We recently had our house in West London rewired by CIVIL Electrical Services (02088441490)- we where issued with Electrical Installation Certificate at the end and we have just got another certifiate through the post from our Local Building control. Is this right and what should be do with these certificates? 49

andrewa2011-07-11 22:43:31 For moral reasons (you dont really want to kill anybody do you) Why not try installing that great South African invention the earth leakage circuit breaker. This device measures current entering the house on the LIVE wire and compares it to current leaving the house on the NEUTRAL wire. If there is more than a 20 milliamps difference between them (current flowing to EARTH through YOU for example) the breaker disconnects the mains from the houses wiring (20ma at 220 volts NOT being enough to do more than give you a tingle) In South Africa these devices cost under 50 pounds. 50

Simon2011-08-16 13:38:54 The information given originally is incorrect. The Health and Safety Executive only deals with health and safety issues at work not private landlords and their failure to comply with legislation. This is the responsibility of building control and environmental health and by personal experience they are ineffectual and pointless contacting. 51

derekmiles2011-09-08 09:06:39 mains smoke alarms poblem
4 yrs ago elec regs 16 edition came in
this said all instalations smoke alarms linked on seperate circuit
old property before 2006 alarms were linked to lighting systems
alarms fitted now to old sysstems can they be wired still to lighting cicrcuits 52

emma2011-09-22 08:27:51 There are alot of tenents on here who have bouldered in and rented a property and asked questions later - I've done it myself in the past. As landlords are responsible for renting a safe property, you are responsible for ensuring all the safety requirements and paperwork are in place PRIOR to signing your AST.
Furthermore you must notify your LL immediately of any maintenance issues - not keep quiet and use them against them at a later date. Follow up in writing and send recorded if possible for proof of posting.
If all else fails you can go to your local council and they have an enforcement department who will inspect the property and insist on the works to be completed by the landlord (or face court).

My council advised that battery smoke alarms were sufficient.

But tenents, play it fair!!! 53

Private Landlords Cardiff | Landlord Portfolio2011-12-10 08:14:25 [...] auction database is available free, with over 350 auctioneers and nationwide property auctions.Where to find private landlords in Cardiff   With over 3.9 million households accommodated thro...te-Landlords-city-300x150.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="150" />   With over 3.9 million [...] 54

Debbie n2012-01-03 14:06:54 I have an old style fuse box so if fuse blows I have to rewire that particular fuse. Could anyone tell me if my landlord needs to provide a more up to date fuse board with a trip switch in by law or not please? 55

Jeremy2012-01-04 23:40:31 Hello Debbie,

Legally, no. As long as the unit itself is safe then it can continue to be used. See http://www.esc.org.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/industry/best_practice/BestPracticeGuide4-Locked.pdf, especially page 19.

Ask your landlord to provide you evidence of electrical inspections. Treat theri non-reply with suspicion. My tenants get annual papwork automatically, even if they don't ask for it.

Are you asking because you don't like the look of the unit or because it's frequently tripping? If the latter, there may be a problem elsewhere with the installation or the amount of load you're taking from one area (e.g. too many extension cables). 56

tony2012-01-05 19:24:21 we live in a housing association house and in september 2010 we had a wiring test done on the house and it failed and where told the house had to be rewired but as yet we have had no work done and they keep sending me up the garden path that they will sort it out does any body know where we stand on this as the electric last passed a test in 2003 57

CIVIL Electrical2012-01-05 19:34:10 Hi Tony you will need to write a formal letter to your Housing Association and make sure you copy your local council Electrical Safety division whatever they are call. Stating that the Electrical instalation is not safe and had not been rectified after failing an inspection report. This should wake them up and get them to rectify it for you. They have got the duty of care to you to make sure your are not put in danger and they don't seem to be doing this.

Thanks 58

Gail Hampton2012-01-10 22:00:08 My son lives in a rented property. When he moved in there was an oven, hob and extractor. They have reported the oven is overheating and smelling of burning when on. I contacted the landlord and requested an electrician to look at this. I a
very concerned as my son has three small children in the house. The landlord has intimated that the house was rented as unfurnished but this oven was in situ when he took over the house. He is refusing to look at this oven at all plus the appliance had never been serviced either. What concerns me is that my daughter previously stayed in this house when a near disaster happened. They were all luckily out at work when the aluminium flue melted and when they returned home from work the house was covered in black soot. When the plumber arrived he advised them the wrong glue had been fitted to the boiler - it should have been stainless steel and not aluminium hence it melting and eminating soot all over the property. The plumber advised they were lucky they were all out and not asleep in bed or they would have not be here today!! This landlord is taking 625 a month rent and they can't get any repairs done promptly or correctly! This appliance is concerning me as I am frightened this will cause a fire in the property. I have been in touch with the private renting section where the landlord is registered and they advise me it is the responsibility of the landlord to repair and service this appliance. Your comments would be appreciated. Mrs H - Dundee Scotland. 59

Jeremy2012-01-10 22:20:00 Hi Gail,

Is the cooker on the inventory drafted by the landlord? If so, that will clear up the "unfurnished" smokescreen.

Inform the landlord in writing that he has legal obligations to ensure supplied appliances are safe. Give him a reasonable deadline to do an inspection or to provide a copy of any in-force electrical safety inspection report. Tell him failure will lead you to commissioning an inspection and deduct the fee from the next month's rent. Shop around and keep quotes to show you chose a sensible fee.

The report coming back saying safe - unsafe will decide your next actions. 60

Please leave a comment

Click here to cancel reply.

*Name

*Email Address

*Your comment

Notify me via email when someone else leaves a comment