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Join the campaign for electrical safety in the private rented sector
The Electrical Safety Council has reported that private tenants are disproportionately affected by electric shocks in their homes and that more one fifth of all private tenants already report concerns with electrical safety in their home. The rise in non-professional landlords who are confused over responsibilities puts tenants at further risk. 89% of landords are private individual landlords, only 8% of landlords reported that they were full-time landlords (source: DCLG Landlord Survey 2010, published 2011).
The campaign is being organised by the National Private Tenants Organisation (www.npto.btck.co.uk) and is calling for legislation to make periodic inspection and testing of electrical installations and appliances compulsory in all types of private rented homes.
An electrical installation condition report for a 2 bedroom house in London might cost from around £180 (inc. VAT) and could last for up to 5 years, that is only £36 per year (based on figures from www.whatprice.co.uk website).
Click here to read our full campaign report
Click here to sign up to the campaign
Click here to see campaign supporters
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The Problem
- The Electrical Safety Council has found that of all the people receiving an electric shock , private tenants are disproportionately affected: with 16% of the UK population living in private rented properties, they account for 20% of UK adults receiving an electric shock.
(Source: http://www.esc.org.uk/public/news-and-campaigns/press-releases/news/article/
confusion-between-landlords-and-tenants-exposes-millions-to-serious-electrical-dangers/)
- In 2008 a young mother living in Cornwall was electrocuted and died in a bath due to a faulty heater and lack of earthing in the property. The deputy Cornwall coroner at the inquest said "Anyone who heard the evidence today cannot but be starkly reminded of the potential perils of electricity that most of us have in our homes, but yet take for granted." He went on to say "But there is no requirement for periodic inspections of electricity in homes and that to me seems inexplicable. I'm bound to wonder how many other properties are today in a similar state as this one was." The victim's family solicitor said "If a private landlord lets out a property to a tenant, they require a gas certificate every year to ensure the property's safe. There is no such regulation in relation to the electrical supply."
(Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8140632.stm)
- In March 2012 a West Reading man died after being electrocuted by a faulty desk lamp in his bedsit. An electrician said that electrocution could have been prevented if the lamp had been wired correctly. This would have been discovered if the appliances in the bedsit had been subject to periodic inspection and testing in time (commonly known as PAT testing). (source: www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2067787_west_reading_man_killed_by_faulty_desk_lamp)
- In a survey of students in the UK conducted by the Electrical Safety Council in 2009 it was found that almost a third of students weren't confident that the electrical appliances supplied by their landlord were safe. (Source: www.esc.org.uk/public/news-and-campaigns)
695 people have viewed postings on the campaign on professional electricians forums!
The campaign has been supported on the International Union of Tenants website at : http://www.iut.nu
Download the campaign leaflet - click here.
The campaign is being organised by the National Private Tenants Organisation (www.npto.btck.co.uk) and is calling for legislation to make periodic inspection and testing of electrical installations and appliances compulsory in all types of private rented homes.
An electrical installation condition report for a 2 bedroom house in London might cost from around £180 (inc. VAT) and could last for up to 5 years, that is only £36 per year (based on figures from www.whatprice.co.uk website).
Click here to read our full campaign report
Click here to sign up to the campaign
Click here to see campaign supporters
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Problem
- The Electrical Safety Council has found that of all the people receiving an electric shock , private tenants are disproportionately affected: with 16% of the UK population living in private rented properties, they account for 20% of UK adults receiving an electric shock.
(Source: http://www.esc.org.uk/public/news-and-campaigns/press-releases/news/article/
confusion-between-landlords-and-tenants-exposes-millions-to-serious-electrical-dangers/)
- In 2008 a young mother living in Cornwall was electrocuted and died in a bath due to a faulty heater and lack of earthing in the property. The deputy Cornwall coroner at the inquest said "Anyone who heard the evidence today cannot but be starkly reminded of the potential perils of electricity that most of us have in our homes, but yet take for granted." He went on to say "But there is no requirement for periodic inspections of electricity in homes and that to me seems inexplicable. I'm bound to wonder how many other properties are today in a similar state as this one was." The victim's family solicitor said "If a private landlord lets out a property to a tenant, they require a gas certificate every year to ensure the property's safe. There is no such regulation in relation to the electrical supply."
(Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8140632.stm)
- In March 2012 a West Reading man died after being electrocuted by a faulty desk lamp in his bedsit. An electrician said that electrocution could have been prevented if the lamp had been wired correctly. This would have been discovered if the appliances in the bedsit had been subject to periodic inspection and testing in time (commonly known as PAT testing). (source: www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2067787_west_reading_man_killed_by_faulty_desk_lamp)
- In a survey of students in the UK conducted by the Electrical Safety Council in 2009 it was found that almost a third of students weren't confident that the electrical appliances supplied by their landlord were safe. (Source: www.esc.org.uk/public/news-and-campaigns)
695 people have viewed postings on the campaign on professional electricians forums!
The campaign has been supported on the International Union of Tenants website at : http://www.iut.nu
Download the campaign leaflet - click here.