Four ways in which your property could fail a residential electrical installation condition report

A residential electrical installation report is a vital tool to ensure that a property remains safe. Landlords are legally required to have this inspection carried out regularly or whenever new tenants move in. The report tests all the permanent electrical installations, including the cabling, sockets and any wired-in appliances such as showers and may require remedial work to be done. There are four main problems that the inspection may find, which will need to be fixed.

Overloading

Firstly, the report will detect if any of the installed electrical systems are overloaded. Electrical cables can only carry a certain amount of current. They will normally be suitable for ordinary household use, but if too many appliances are connected they will suffer from overload. This is dangerous because it will cause the wires to heat up which can then lead to a fire. If there is any danger of this happening, the report will inform you of the problem and instruct you to get the wiring fixed.

Shock

The second thing that could cause you to fail the inspection is an electric shock hazard. This could be caused by a number of things, such as exposed wire or poor wiring. Electric shock can be fatal and so any shock hazards will need to be fixed by an electrician immediately.

Defective work

Thirdly, the report could tell you to repair any defective electrical work that has been done in the past. This could include DIY bodges or poor-quality work done by a professional, as well as work that no longer passes current safety standards. Electrical work that has not been carried out safely can give a false sense of security, as you may not be aware of the dangers to which you or your tenants are exposed.

No earthing or bonding

Earthing and bonding are two methods of helping to prevent an electric shock by either grounding the current or connecting all exposed metal surfaces with a protective conductor. If either method is absent, there is a risk that anyone touching an exposed surface would effectively become a conductor, with potentially fatal results.

The report will tell you where your electrical installation is inadequate and will give you a time frame in which it will need fixing. Make sure you use a competent electrician to prepare the report and carry out the repairs, and you should not have to worry about electrical dangers to your tenants. For more information on residential EIC reports, contact a professional near you.

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