There are around 30 deaths and 4,000 accidents annually in the UK involving electrics. As a Landlord, it is important to ensure that any electrical appliances and fittings within the property you rent out are safe.

There are around 30 deaths and 4,000 accidents annually in the UK involving electrics. As a Landlord, it is important to ensure that any electrical appliances and fittings within the property you rent out are safe.

However, unlike Gas Safe regulations, there is no legislation that demands you must have a electrical safety certificate. However, should any electrical fittings or appliances within your rental property cause actual harm to the tenant, you could be held liable.

To make sure that you don’t electrocute your tenants, and if you do you’re not held liable there, are 2 things you should do.

1.Ensure that tenants are given copies of operating and safety instructions for ALL equipment in the premises or at least make them available within the property

2.Have a Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) carried out.

A Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) – What is it?

This is a comprehensive test on the condition of the electrical installation, wiring and accessories (switches and sockets) in a property.

The electrical system is tested against current safety standards and a report is produced. The report lists any electrical faults, potential concerns, and areas of the system that require further investigation.

The report also provides a time scale of urgency on which remedial action should be taken. The test does not include any repair to the electrical system. Once you have the report you can budget for remedial work or additional investigation. These reports can also be useful for determining the condition of an electrical system before purchasing a property.

Depending on the property, the age of the electrical system and it’s use, a PIR may be recommended every 1, 3, 5 or 10 years. For landlords, a 5 year inspection is deemed sufficient. Although, there is no official legislation here.

Most electrical systems will fail a PIR.

Most electrical systems are pretty old. So, it won’t be a surprise that most premises are likely to fall short of modern safety standards. The real cost of a PIR is the remedial work to your electrical system. This can be expensive.

This is where some electrical companies will offer a ‘Free’ PIR. They are confident that they will then win the electrical repair work that inevitably follows. Beware of this tactic. You are not likely to get an honest assessment. Always pay for an independent report that will allow you to tender your repair project to several electrical companies. Remember as a landlord it is vital that you have these checks carried out on a regular basis, it will cover you as well as the tennant.

How much will a PIR cost?

The cost of a PIR will depend on several factors.

1.The size of premises and number of rooms

2.The number of circuits

3.The presence correct labelling of circuits on the fuse board

4.Ease of access for the engineers to inspect and test

For an average 3 bedroom house in the London area, the average cost of a PIR is around £250. This can change depending on the company and the location.